Evaluation of free insulin-like growth factor-I measurement on the diagnosis and follow-up treatment of growth hormone-deficient adult patients

OBJECTIVE Insulin-like growth factor I(IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 (IG FBP-3) are GH-dependent and their concentrations have been used in the diag nosis of GH deficiency. Recently, the free fraction of IGF-I has received m ore attention. The aim of the study was to assess the role of free IGF-I in the diagnosis of GH deficiency in adults, and in follow-up during treatmen t with recombinant human GH (rhGH), DESIGN AND PATIENTS We studied 24 adult patients with pituitary disease and GH deficiency and 25 matched controls. Nine patients were re-evaluated aft er 6 months of treatment with rhGH (0.25 U/kg/week), MEASUREMENTS Serum levels of IGF-I, free IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-1 were me asured by immunoradiometric assay, RESULTS Serum free IGF-I levels were significantly lower in the GH deficien t group than in the normal group (mean: 0.84 and 1.32 mu g/l respectively, P=0.0009). Furthermore, serum IGF-I levels were also lower (mean: 92.24 and 230.47 mu g/l respectively, P=0.0001). 63% of patients had serum IGF-I con centration below the normal range, For free IGF-I, 52% of the GH deficient patients showed levels below the lowest value obtained for the normal group . Seventy-five percent of the patients showed at least one of the two deter minations below the normal range, The free-total IGF-I ratio was significan tly higher (P=0.025) in GH deficient group (range: 0.19-21.29, mean: 2.53) than in normal controls (range: 0.2-2.15, mean: 0.6). Regarding IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-1 no differences were observed between the two groups. During rhGH t reatment the increase in serum total and free IGF-I and IGFBP-3 paralleled the beneficial effects on body composition, CONCLUSIONS Free IGF-I may be another useful method for the diagnosis of GH deficiency, particularly if related to total IGF-I concentration.