Association between decreased klotho blood levels and organic growth hormone deficiency in children with growth impairment.

Klotho is an aging-modulating protein expressed mainly in the kidneys and choroid plexus, which can also be shed, released into the circulation and act as a hormone. Klotho deficient mice are smaller compared to their wild-type counterparts and their somatotropes show marked atrophy and reduced number of secretory granules. Recent data also indicated an association between klotho levels and growth hormone (GH) levels in acromegaly. We aimed to study the association between klotho levels and GH deficiency (GHD) in children with growth impairment.Prospective study comprising 99 children and adolescents (aged 9.0 ± 3.7 years, 49 male) undergoing GH stimulation tests for short stature (height-SDS = -2.1 ± 0.6). Klotho serum levels were measured using an α-klotho ELISA kit.Klotho levels were significantly lower (p