Inaccuracy of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) Binding Protein (IGFBP)-3 Assessment in the Diagnosis of Growth Hormone (GH) Deficiency from Childhood to Young Adulthood: Association to Low GH Dependency of IGF-II and Presence of Circulating IGFBP-3 18-Kilodalton Fragment

Abstract

Our results suggest that in children and young adults with GHD, the low GH dependency of IGF-II together with IGFBP-3 proteolytic activity yielding the 18-kDa fragment concur to reduce the sensitivity of IGFBP-3 assessment, ultimately making it too inaccurate as a screening test in the work-up of GHD.