GROWTH DISORDER PANEL

Growth hormone (GH) is known to have direct action on long bone growth in children, but majority of its anabolic and metabolic actions are mediated through intermediary factors like IGFBP 3 & IGF-1. GH deficiency is mostly idiopathic in children whereas Pituitary adenoma is the commonest cause in adults. IGF-1 levels are useful in diagnosing patients with active Acromegaly with low basal GH levels & in suspected cases of Acromegaly who show suppression of GH to normal after glucose administration. IGFBP-3 is used in the differential diagnosis of GH deficiency and Non-GH deficient short children. It is also used to assess nutritional status.