DISTURBANCES IN THE GROWTH-HORMONE INSULIN-LIKE-GROWTH-FACTOR AXIS INCHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH DIFFERENT EATING DISORDERS

Numerous endocrine abnormalities of the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-li ke growth factor axis have been described in patients with both anorex ia nervosa and obesity during childhood and adolescence. These alterat ions include changes in the Levels of 24-hour spontaneous GI-I secreti on, high-affinity, low- capacity GH binding protein (GMBP), IGF-I, IGF -II and the IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), However, the existing infor mation is sometimes confusing and contradictory. Furthermore, little o r no data in these pathologies are available concerning IGFBP-2 or fre e ICF-I, We have analysed the GH-IGF axis in large populations of adol escents with anorexia nervosa and prepubertal children with exogenous obesity, These patients were studied at the time of diagnosis and at t wo timepoints during nutritional therapy and normal weight recovery, T he results of these studies using age-and sex-matched controls are des cribed here.