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Establishment of reference values for endocrine tests--part V: acromegaly
E Endert1, M van Rooden, E Fliers
1Department of Clinical Chemistry, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. e.endert@amc.uva.nl
The Netherlands Journal of Medicine
|August 25, 2006
Summary
New reference values for growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) tests have been established. These updated diagnostic standards aid in evaluating patients suspected of acromegaly.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) are key biomarkers for acromegaly diagnosis.
- New assay methodologies necessitate updated reference values for GH and IGF-1 testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- Establish current reference ranges for urinary GH excretion.
- Determine reference values for plasma IGF-1 across different age groups.
- Define reference ranges for GH response to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
Main Methods:
- Collected 24-hour urine samples from 50 individuals for urinary GH.
- Measured plasma IGF-1 and GH response during OGTT in 50 participants.
- Utilized data from 250 individuals for basal plasma IGF-1 reference values.
Main Results:
- Established reference ranges for urinary GH (< 5-46 microU/24 h).
- Defined nadir GH after OGTT: < or =1.5 mU/l (males) and < or =2.0 mU/l (females).
- Provided age-specific plasma IGF-1 ranges (e.g., 20-30 years: 8-61 nmol/l).
Conclusions:
- Successfully established up-to-date reference values for critical acromegaly diagnostic tests.
- The new reference ranges utilize state-of-the-art assay methodology.
- These values support accurate evaluation of patients with suspected acromegaly.
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