IGFBP-3 is a poor parameter for assessment of clinical activity in acromegaly

W. W. De Herder*, A. J. Van Der Lely, J. A.M.J.L. Janssen, P. Uitterlinden, L. J. Hofland, S. W.J. Lamberts

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

42 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective. Elevated serum IGF-I and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels have been found in patients with active acromegaly. We have studied the relative diagnostic merits of measurements of IGFBP-3 compared with IGF-I as a parameter of disease activity in these patients. Design/patients. Thirty untreated patients with acromegaly were compared with 30 healthy adults. Measurements. Twenty-four hour sampling for serum GH in patients with acromegaly, serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3. Results. Mean IGF-I levels were 22.0 nmol/l (range 6.5-38.4) in the healthy adults and 118.7 nmol/l (range 67.7-206.0) in patients with acromegaly. Mean IGFBP-3 levels were 3.5 mg/l (range 2.1-4.8) in controls and 5.4 mg/l (range 4.2-6.6) in patients with acromegaly. Mean IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratios were 6.5 nmol/mg (range 1.9-14.5) in the healthy adults and 22.0 nmol/mg (range 14.3-32.7) in patients with acromegaly. There was a considerable overlap for IGFBP-3 levels but not for IGF-I levels, between normals and acromegalics. The IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio also showed overlap between normals and acromegalics. There was a significant correlation between the mean 24-hour GH and IGFBP-3 levels (P = 0.036) and between the IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels (P < 0.002) in acromegaly. In patients with acromegaly, the IGFBP-3 levels showed a decrement, but the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio did not change significantly with age. Conclusions. IGFBP-3 has no additional discriminatory value over IGF-I measurements for the assessment of clinical activity in acromegaly. In acromegaly, IGFBP-3 decreases with increasing age. In acromegaly, IGFBP-3 levels significantly correlate with mean 24-hour GH levels and IGF-I levels.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)501-505
Number of pages5
JournalClinical Endocrinology
Volume43
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 1995

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