Abstract
We have compared levels of serum growth hormone (GH) in children with growth disorders using the Nb2 node lymphoma (Nb2BA) bioassay and immunoradiometric (IRMA) assay. Seven children (2 tall, 2 short normal, 3 GH insufficient) showed identical secretory patterns by time series analysis but Nb2BA GH was nearly twice as high as IRMA GH. There was a high correlation between IRMA and Nb2BA but daytime samples showed a better correlation than those obtained at night. It is suggested that some residual stimulation of Nb2BA by prolactin occurred in the serum despite the addition of a 1:1000 dilution of prolactin monoclonal antibody.
Four boys with delayed puberty were also studied. Although the GH profiles were identical, GH concentrations were lower in Nb2BA than IRMA. All 4 boys grew on low dose oxandrolone (1.25-2.5mg/day) and analysis of GH profiles by the two methods showed an increase in the ratio of Nb2BA:IRMA GH to 1.5:1. These data suggest that differences between bioactivity and immunoreactivity may be relevant to the measurement of GH concentrations in patients with delayed puberty.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sandhu, R., Pringle, P., Hindmarsh, P. et al. 39 BIOACTIVE CH CONCENTRATIONS ARE LOWER THAN IMMUNOREACTIVE GH IN DELAYED PUBERTY. Pediatr Res 24, 523 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00060
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00060