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Comparative Analysis of Human Growth Hormone in Serum Using SPRi, Nano-SPRi and ELISA Assays
Published on: January 7, 2016
Interassay differences in growth hormone measurement in acromegaly
J H Barth1, J H Smith, P Clarkson
1Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, Leeds General Infirmary, UK.
Annals of Clinical Biochemistry
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Different immunoassays show variations in measuring growth hormone (GH) in acromegaly patients. Some assays may under-recognize specific GH isoforms, impacting diagnostic accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder characterized by excessive growth hormone (GH) secretion.
- Accurate measurement of GH is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring acromegaly.
- The presence of various GH isoforms may affect assay performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the performance of three different two-site immunometric assays in measuring plasma GH concentrations.
- To investigate whether GH isoforms secreted by acromegalic patients are under-recognized by certain assays.
Main Methods:
- Plasma GH concentrations were measured using three distinct assays: Pharmacia hGH RIA, IDS Gamma-BCT, and Delfia 22 kDa hGH.
- Stored plasma samples from 24 patients with confirmed acromegaly were analyzed.
- Assay agreement and differences in GH measurements were evaluated.
Main Results:
- A generally good agreement was observed between the three assays.
- The IDS Gamma-BCT and Delfia 22 kDa assays consistently yielded lower GH results compared to the Pharmacia IRMA.
- A consistent difference of approximately 20% of the mean value was noted between the assays for each patient.
Conclusions:
- Different immunometric assays exhibit variability in quantifying GH in acromegaly.
- Certain GH isoforms may be differentially detected or under-recognized by specific assays, leading to measurement discrepancies.
- These findings highlight the importance of assay selection and potential impact on acromegaly management.
