Neidel J, Schönau E, Zander D, Rütt J, Hackenbroch M H
Department of Orthopedics, Köln University, Germany.
Acta Orthop Scand. 1993 Oct;64(5):540-2. doi: 10.3109/17453679308993688.
Plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) were measured in 55 children with Perthes' disease and 55 age- and sex-matched controls. IGFBP-3 values did not differ between the 2 groups and corresponded well to normal values found by others. The IGF I/IGFBP-3 ratio was reduced during the first 2 years of Perthes' disease. Our findings indicate that low levels of circulating IGF I in Perthes' disease, as we have reported previously, are caused neither by altered concentrations of the principal IGF-binding protein, IGFBP-3, nor by an underlying growth hormone deficiency.
