title: Study of primary IGF-1 deficiency in Egyptian children with idiopathic short stature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) deficiency (IGFD) is defined by low levels of IGF-1 without growth hormone (GH) deficiency and absence of secondary causes. The aim of this study was to evaluate IGF-1 in Egyptian children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) and describe patients with IGFD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 50 children with ISS following up at the Diabetes Endocrine and Metabolism Pediatric Unit at Cairo University Pediatric Hospital. Children were included based on the following criteria: (1) short stature with current height standard deviation score (SDS) ≤-2.5; (2) age between 2 and 9 years in boys and 2 and 8 years in girls, and (3) prepubertal status. Exclusion criteria were: (1) identified cause of short stature and (2) pubertal children. IGF-1-deficient children were defined as children without GH deficiency and with IGF-1 levels below the 2.5th percentile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 50 children with ISS, 14 (28%) patients had low IGF-1 levels, consistent with the diagnosis of primary IGFD. When compared with non-IGFD children, IGFD children had lower birth weight SDS (-1.8 vs. -0.7 SDS, p < 0.0001) and lower height SDS (-4.2 vs. -3.1 SDS, p < 0.05) and more delayed bone age (2.6 vs. 1.6 years, p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary IGF-1 deficiency is found in 28% of children with ISS.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. ghanwar@kasralainy.edu.eg
authors: Ghada M
authors: GM
authors: Anwar
authors: Wafaa A
authors: WA
authors: Kandeel
authors: Iman A
authors: IA
authors: Mandour
authors: Ayat N
authors: AN
authors: Kamal
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000378:metabolism; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I