Abstract
Random plasma somatomedin-C levels were measured in 101 children aged 7 months to 18 years with growth at or below the 5th percentile. 87 of 101 had short stature due to constitutional delay or genetic predisposition and 14 were growth hormone deficient. In the short normal group mean somatomedin-C levels were: 0-2 years: 0.22±0.02U/ml; 2-5 years: 0.28±0.06U/ml; 5-12 years: 0.78±0.1U/ml; 12-18 years: 1.22±0.16U/ml; compared with 0.23±0.04U/ml in the growth hormone deficient children. 55 of 101 had somatomedin-C levels of 0.5U/ml, and had one or more growth hormone stimulation tests. All 14 growth hormone deficient patients fell into this group (range: 0.09-0.47U/ml). The 41 normal patients in this group (growth hormone 6ng/ml) were distibuted among the entire 87 normals as follows: 0-2 years: 10/10; 2-5 years: 19/23; 5-12 years: 11/30; 12-18 years: 1/24. There was considerable overlap of values among growth hormone deficient and short normal children under 12 years of age, but a clear separation above 12 years. In 5 of 6 patients in whom 2 measurements were made, there were major differences in these levels. 1) Random somatomedin-C levels lack specificity in screening for growth hormone deficiency under the age of 12 years. 2) The variation of levels in individual patients necessitates further study to identify a possible diurnal or pulsatile secretory pattern. 3) A standardized time of sampling should be considered.
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Moore, D., Smith, E. & Kelley, V. Plasma Somatomedin-C as a screening test for growth hormone deficiency in children and adolescents. Pediatr Res 15, 1553 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198112000-00107
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198112000-00107