GH/IGF-1 axis in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism

Normal values of serum IGF-1 in adults: results from a Brazilian population

OBJECTIVE

To determine the normal values of serum IGF-1 (Immulite 2000) in a Brazilian adult (21-70 years) population.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Healthy volunteers were divided into 10 groups according to age (5-year intervals), with 100 subjects (50 men and 50 women) per group. One-hundred participants were selected for repetition of the test after 12 weeks.

RESULTS

No difference in IGF-1 values was observed between men and women, but a progressive reduction of serum IGF-1 with age was seen. The reference values provided by the manufacturer of the assay, although discretely higher, were very close to the values found in this study. A second measurement of IGF-1 after 12 weeks revealed a variation < 20% in 99% of subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

This study established the reference range for IGF-1 determined with the Immulite 2000 assay for a large number of healthy Brazilian adults stratified according to age, and suggests that variations > 20% in IGF-1 levels within an interval of 12 weeks cannot be attributed to interassay variability.

Growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis in patients with subclinical thyroid dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to evaluate serum concentrations of GH, IGF-I, and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in patients with subclinical thyroid dysfunction before and after normalization of thyroid function.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The study included 51 patients (mean age 42.2+/-1.8 years) with subclinical hypothyroidism and 30 patients (mean age 44.3+/-2.4 years) with subclinical hyperthyroidism. A group of 37 euthyroid healthy subjects were studied as controls. Serum concentrations of TSH, FT4, FT3, GH, insulin, IGF-I, and IGFBP-3 were measured in all patients before starting therapy and after normalization of thyroid function. The dosage of levothyroxine (LT4) and antithyroid drugs was adjusted in attempt to keep the serum-free thyroxine (FT4) and thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations within the normal range.

MAIN OUTCOME

Baseline growth hormone levels were similar with hypothyroid group and hyperthyroid group in relation to euthyroid control subjects. Fasting serum IGF-I levels were significantly lower in the subclinical hypothyroid group compared with the control group. On the other hand, IGF-I levels of subclinical hyperthyroid patients and control group were similar. After normalization of thyroid function tests, IGF-I concentrations were increased in subclinical hypothyroid subjects, but unchanged in subclinical hyperthyroid subjects. Patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism showed slightly lower mean serum IGFBP-3 concentrations than those found in control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Serum GH and IGFBP-3 levels were unaltered by treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, it was shown that GH-IGF axis was not affected in patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism, while it was affected in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. That is, investigation of the axis in subclinical hyperthyroidism would not bring any extra advantages, but LT4 replacement therapy could prevent abnormalities related to GH-IGF axis in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.