The effect of thyroid hormone therapy (L-T4 or L-T3) on plasma immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor I (somatomedin C, Sm-C) concentrations was studied in 8 normal controls, 14 primary hypothyroid subjects and in 7 patients with endemic cretinism. In normals basal levels of Sm-C (1.56 ± 0.77 U/ml) increased to (2.46 ± 1.0 U/ml; L-T4) and to (2.9 ± 0.95 U/ml; L-T3). Plasma Sm-C basal levels were significantly lower in primary hypothyroid subjects (0.81 ± 0.48 U/ml) and increased to 2.54 ± 1.43 U/ml (L-T4) and to 2.16 ± 0.83 U/ml (L-T3). A significant and positive correlation (r = 0.56) was found between Sm-C and serum T4 and T3 concentrations. Plasma Sm-C concentrations in endemic cretinism were initially normal in 4 patients, but low in the remaining 3 (mean ± SD: 1.18 ± 0.63 U/ml) and did not increase after 12 months (1.34 ± 0.61 U/ml) or 18 months (1.01 ± 0.43 U/ml) of L-T4 and L-T3 therapy. Plasma T4 levels and free T4 increased considerably in EC after therapy with a significant decrease in the previously elevated plasma TSH concentrations. The subnormal response of plasma Sm-C during effective thyroid thyroid hormone therapy could be an additional factor involved in growth failure of endemic cretins.

Keywords:
Somatomedin-C, Insulin-like growth factor I, Endemic cretinism, Hypothyroidism, Growth failure
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© 1987 S. Karger AG, Basel
1987
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