A9_9 Growth

This chapter explains normal childhood growth and clinical disorders associated with abnormal growth, including growth hormone deficiency (growth hormone insufficiency), hypopituitarism, growth hormone receptor deficiency, gigantism and acromegaly. Immunoassays relevant to the investigation and diagnosis of growth hormone disorders are reviewed: growth hormone, growth hormone-binding protein, insulin-like growth factors IGF1 and IGF2 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein. A number of dynamic tests are described: insulin tolerance test, insulin stress test, glucagon tolerance test, clonidine test, arginine test and IGF1 generation test.

Gill Rumsby is a Consultant Biochemist at University College London Hospitals NHS Trust where her laboratory offers a national and international service for the diagnosis of several inherited disorders including congenital adrenal hyperplasia, primary hyperoxaluria and renal tubulopathies. These services include both specialist biochemical and molecular tests, a number of which have been developed by her research group. From 1999-2013 she was chair of the organising committee for the University College London based MSc Clinical Biochemistry and is an examiner for the Royal College of Pathologists.

Professor Peter Hindmarsh trained at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and undertook Paediatric Endocrinology training with Professor Charles Brook at the Middlesex Hospital and University College London. He is now Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at University College London and honorary Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and University College London Hospitals. Clinical practice includes disorders of the adrenal gland and diabetes. Research interests centre on the impact of early growth on cardiovascular risk factors and the control and complications of diabetes in children.

This chapter also contains material from Professor Michael Preece and Dr. Jane Pringle, from previous editions of The Immunoassay Handbook.

Growth, childhood, puberty, growth hormone deficiency, growth hormone insufficiency, hypopituitarism, growth hormone receptor deficiency, gigantism, acromegaly, growth hormone, growth hormone-binding protein, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), IGF1, IGF2, somatomedin, insulin-like growth factor binding protein, insulin tolerance test, insulin stress test, glucagon tolerance test, clonidine test, arginine test, IGF1 generation test.

Shen, Y., Zhang, J., Zhao, Y., Yan, Y., Liu, Y. & Cai, J. Diagnostic value of serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in growth hormone deficiency: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Eur. J. Pediatr. Doi: 10.1007/s00431-014-2406-3.