Abstract
SMact estimated by the porcine bioassay at diagnosis in 24 children with ALL vas low (mean 0.20 U/ml. * 0.19). in all 15 sbjects studied after completion of induction chemotherapy SMact rose (mean 0.54 U/ml. ± 0.21) and GH responses to insulin hypoplycaemia and arginine were normal. In 29 children in complete remission for 4-8 years mean SMact (0.65 U/ml. ± 0.23) and mear height velocity S.D. score (-0.17 ± 1.78) were normal. A subgroup (17 out of 29) who received a higher dose of cranial irradiation had impaired GH responses to insulin hypoglycaemia, but a normal mean SMact and a normal mean height velocity. However, one child in this subgroup with the lowest level of SMact (0.35 U/ml.) had clear biochemical and clinical GH deficiency. In ALL of childhood, bioassayable SMact is low at diagnosis, recovers after induction therapy and is normal in remission unless overt GH deficiency occurs.
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Price, D., Shalet, S., Beardwell, C. et al. Serum somatomedin activity (SMact) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Pediatr Res 12, 159 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197802000-00081
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197802000-00081