Correlation between the level of serum growth hormone; somatomedin-C; anthropometric measurements and the liver functions in chronic liver diseases.

Twenty patients with bilharzial periportal fibrosis (group I); 20 patients with post hepatitic cirrhosis (group II) and 20 normal controls were chosen to study the correlation between the serum level of human growth hormone (GH) and Somatomedin-C (Sm-C); and the anthropometric measurements; liver function tests and various haematological parameters. Group I showed no statistically significant difference in the mean values of serum GH before and after insulin induced hypoglycemia. The basal serum level of Sm-C showed a statistically significant decrease and highly significant decrease after insulin test. A statistically significant positive correlation was evident between the individual values of serum level of GH and Sm-C and the anthropometric measurements, haematological values and liver function tests (r = 0.41). The mean serum level of GH in group 2, showed statistically significant increase before and after insulin test. The mean serum level of Sm-C showed a statistically significant decrease before and after insulin test. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the individual values of the serum level of GH and Sm-C and the anthropometric measurements, haematological values and liver function tests (r = 0.16).