My tumor makes growth hormone, what is the IGF-1 test and why is it important?
While the tumor makes growth hormone, its action and effect is dependent on production of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1); Blood IGF-1 is produced, primarily in the liver, in response to the amount of growth hormone made by the pituitary gland. Growth hormone works primarily through IGF-1. The blood IGF-1 level is also a very reliable indicator of overall growth hormone production. Since blood growth hormone levels fluctuate every few minutes over 24 hours, a single growth hormone level is only a “snapshot” in time and does not reflect overall growth hormone production. The blood IGF-1 level is the most reliable indicator of overall growth hormone production and is a reliable measure of activity in a patient with acromegaly. A normal blood IGF-1 level indicates remission or, in patients taking medication, control of acromegaly.
The tumor produces growth hormone but its action and effect is dependent on production of another hormone, IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1); IGF-1 is produced, primarily in the liver, in response to the amount of growth hormone made by the pituitary gland. Growth hormone does not cause growth, the liver must respond to growth hormone to produce an adequate amount of IGF-1; IGF-1 is the effector of growth hormone action. The blood IGF-1 level is also a very reliable indicator of overall growth hormone production. Since blood growth hormone levels fluctuate every few minutes over 24 hours, a single growth hormone level is only a “snapshot” in time and does not reflect overall growth hormone production. The blood IGF-1 level is the most reliable indicator of overall growth hormone production and is a reliable measure of activity in a patient with acromegaly. A normal blood IGF-1 level indicates remission or, in patients taking medication, control of acromegaly. What is Somatomedin C?
