NO EVIDENCE FOR REDUCED SPONTANEOUS OR GROWTH-HORMONE-STIMULATED SERUM LEVELS OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR (IGF)-I, IGF-II OR IGF BINDING-PROTEIN-3 IN WOMEN WITH SPINAL OSTEOPOROSIS

protein 3 in women with spinal osteoporosis. fur J Endocrinol 1994;131 :150-5. ISSN 0804-4643 To test the hypothesis that a dysfunctional gro wth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis may play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, we compared the levels of IGF-I, IGF-II and IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) in 15 women with spinal os teoporosis (i.e. at least one non-traumatic vertebral fracture) and 15 normal age-matched women. Furthermore, the response to 3 days' treatm ent with recombinant human GH (r-hGH) (0.2 IU kg(-1).day(-1)) was dete rmined. The basal levels of IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3 were similar in patients and controls (mean +/- sEM): IGF-I, 16.5 +/- 1.3 versus 16.0 +/- 1.3 nmol/l (NS); IGF-II, 79.9 +/- 3.6 versus 72.5 +/- 4.1 nmol/l ( NS); and IGFBP-3, 125.7 +/- 6.5 versus 130.3 +/- 7.8 nmol/l (NS). Stim ulation with r-hGH elicited increased levels of IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFB P-3 within both groups (p < 0.001). The maximal values expressed as a percentage of baseline were: IGF-I, 341 +/- 26% versus 369 +/- 22%, IG F-II, 125 +/- 4% versus 119 +/- 5%, IGFBP-3, 141+/- 5% versus 147 +/- 7% in osteoporotic patients and controls, respectively. No significant differences were observed between patients and controls in either the ir maximal response or in the area under the response curves. Our resu lts do not support the hypothesis of a dysfunctional GH-IGF axis in wo men with spinal osteoporosis.