CLINICAL UTILITY OF SERUM RIA IGFBP-3 IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF Gil INSUFFICIENCY

We analysed whether serum IGFBP-3 was a useful parameter of GH secretion status. The subjects were complete GHD patients(cGHD, n=40; stimulated GH peaks 10 ng/ml). (l)The sensitivity of IGFBP-3 for cGHD(true positive) and the specificity of IGFBP-3 for NS (true negative) were almost 90%. The sensitivity of pGHD with low IGF-I was 67%, whereas that of pGHD with normal IGF-I was 20%. Thus, IGFBP-3 may reflect GH secretion status and it is one of the screening parameters in the diagnosis of GHD. (2)Among the prepubtal subjects, their height and height gain after the GH treatment (tx) were analysed. There was a significant correlation between their height SDS and IGFBP-3 SDS. Furthermore, there was a correlation between IGFBP-3 SDS before GH tx and delta height SDS after 1 year GH tx, suggesting IGFBP-3 may reflect GH secretion status. In conclusion. IGFBP-3 is one of the screening parameters In the diagnosis of GHD and may reflect GH secretion status.