Growth hormone estimation; insulin-like growth factor-1 a possible alternative

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Despite the use of growth hormone replacement therapy for decades, our ability to make a definitive diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency in children is limited. Growth hormone stimulation tests have been used to discriminate between Growth hormone deficiency and idiopathic short stature. However all these tests lack reproducibility, accuracy, cost affectivity and safety. Insulin like growth factor-1 is an effector hormone and its serum level may be used as simple, easy to perform diagnostic test for growth hormone deficiency