Endocrine Abstracts

NICE guidelines (2010) recommend two different GH provocation tests demonstrating subnormal peak GH levels to diagnose isolated GH deficiency (GHD). Choice of stimulation test varies in different units. In our centre, glucagon (GST) and clonidine (CST) stimulation tests are used to make a diagnosis of IGHD. IGF1 is done as part of the initial screening tests.Purpose of this study was to compare the GST vs CST and to establish if IGF1 level provided any e...

Background: Acid-labile subunit (ALS) protein plays a vital role in maintaining the serum IGF by prolonging the half-life of IGF/IGFBP binary complex. ALS deficiency due to IGFALS gene mutation results in primary IGF1 deficiency and associated with growth impairment, insulin resistance and occasionally delayed puberty.Case report: A 9-year-old boy was referred for short stature (height −1.8 SDS and weight −1.8 SDS). He is the sixth of non-con...

Background: Arginine Vasopressin (AVP) measurement is difficult. When available there has historically been a lengthy interval between sampling and a result. Co-peptin is a 39 amino-acid glycopeptide that is derived from a pre-prohormone consisting of AVP, neurophysin II and co-peptin. It is released in an equimolar ratio with AVP into the circulation. Co-peptin is stable and can be used as a surrogate marker of AVP release in hyper and hypo-osmolar disorders. Many laboratorie...