Serum Levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I and Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3 in Children with Idiopathic Short Stature / 대한소아내분비학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of present study was to compare the mean serum levels of Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) according to the Korean standard growth chart especially in children with idiopathic short stature. METHODS: Serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were determined in 454 children (252 boys and 202 girls; ages 7-15 yr), grouped into two, according to their height below 10 percentile (idiopathic short stature) and 25-50 percentile based on growth chart- 1998 reported by Korean Society of Pediatrics. Serum levels of IGF-I were measured by RIA method and serum levels of IGFBP-3 were measured by IRMA method. RESULTS: Mean serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were lower in below 10 percentile group compared with those of 25-50 percentile group in both sexes. In some age groups, the differences between two groups revealed statistical significance. The difference of serum levels according to growth channel showed more prominence in IGF-I compared than IGFBP-3. Significant statistical correlations were demonstrated in all study groups between serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels according to the age, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly suggest that mean serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in children with idiopathic short stature were lower than those of control group.

A Case of Beals-Hecht syndrome

Beals-Hecht syndrome, also known as congenital contractural arachnodactyly, is a rare autosomal dominant, connective tissue disorder characterized by congenital joint contractures, arachnodactyly, dolichostenomelia, crumpled ear, and kyphoscoliosis. We report a case of Beals-Hecht syndrome in a 4 days old female newborn baby, associated with congenital knee and elbow joint contractures, arachnodactyly, dolichostenomelia, crumpled ear, and 4 umbilical arteries, with brief review of the related literatures.