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Updated: Sep 8, 2026
Comparative Analysis of Human Growth Hormone in Serum Using SPRi, Nano-SPRi and ELISA Assays
Published on: January 7, 2016
Overview of the National Cooperative Growth Study substudy of serial growth hormone measurements
S L Blethen1, T J Breen, K M Attie
1Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794-8111, USA.
Insights
This study analyzed spontaneous growth hormone (GH) secretion in children with short stature. Findings suggest serial sampling may better assess GH secretion in children with normal responses to standard tests.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Growth Disorders
Background:
- Short stature affects numerous children, necessitating accurate diagnostic methods.
- Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is a key concern in evaluating short stature.
- Standard pharmacologic tests for GH deficiency have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate spontaneous GH secretion in children with short stature.
- To compare spontaneous GH secretion between children with GH deficiency and idiopathic short stature.
- To explore the utility of serial sampling in assessing GH secretion.
Main Methods:
- Collected 12-hour spontaneous GH secretion data from 5106 children with short stature.
- Enrolled 2123 children with complete samples into the National Cooperative Growth Study (NCGS).
- Compared characteristics and GH secretion between NCGS enrollees and non-enrollees.
Main Results:
- NCGS enrollees were older, more likely male and pubertal, with higher peak GH levels.
- Height deficit, bone age, and pretreatment growth rates were similar between groups.
- Children with GH deficiency showed lower spontaneous GH secretion than idiopathic short stature, but with significant overlap.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous GH secretion patterns differ between GH deficiency and idiopathic short stature.
- Considerable overlap in spontaneous GH secretion exists between these groups.
- Serial sampling may offer valuable insights for children with short stature and normal pharmacologic GH test responses.
Abstract:
For the National Cooperative Growth Study II substudy, data on spontaneous growth hormone (GH) secretion were collected from 5106 children with short stature. Of these, 2123 with complete 12-hour samples were subsequently enrolled in the NCGS. Compared with NCGS enrollees who were not in the NCGS II substudy, these children were significantly older (11.3 +/- 3.3 years vs 9.9 +/- 4.2 years), had a higher maximum reported GH level (13.3 +/- 10.5 micrograms/L vs 9.2 +/- 8.7 micrograms/L), and were more likely to be male (71% vs 62%) and pubertal (27.3% vs 21.9%) (p<0.001) for all). Height deficit, bone age delay, and pretreatment growth rates were similar. Children who were classified as having GH deficiency on the basis of their response to standard pharmacologic tests had lower spontaneous GH secretion than those who were classified as having idiopathic short stature, but considerable overlap was seen between the two groups on all indexes of spontaneous GH secretion. This finding suggests that the investigators were using serial sampling studies in examining children with short stature who were not growing well but had "normal" GH responses to standard pharmacologic testing.
