How to get tested for growth hormone children. Laboratory methods for diagnosing growth hormone deficiency in children

Growth hormone (somatotropic hormone, STH) belongs to the category of pituitary hormones. - is necessary in the diagnosis of many diseases, as well as to confirm the initial diagnosis.

DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT ANALYSIS for STG GROWTH HORMONE

This substance is produced in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, the name is explained by the fact that this element is responsible for the growth areas in the bones in adolescents and children.

Growth hormone not only directly affects human growth, but also:

• has an anabolic effect (increases formation, slows down the breakdown of proteins);
• accelerates the breakdown of fats (this makes it possible to increase the ratio of adipose tissue and muscle mass);
• controls carbohydrate metabolism (increases the concentration of glucose in human blood);
• provides capture bone tissue calcium.

Indications to a blood test for growth hormone

Growth hormone blood test can be prescribed to a patient in the following situations:

• signs of dwarfism;
• symptoms of accelerated growth;
• excessive sweating;
• violation of hair growth;
• osteoporosis;
• muscle weakness;
• a decrease in blood glucose levels (for example, after taking alcohol);
• porphyria.

If a patient comes for an initial consultation with a specialist with ready-made research results, he should certainly clarifyshelf life of hormonal tests.

ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS AND SERVICES

Endocrinology is a science aimed at diagnosing and treating diseases of the glands internal secretionwhich generate the most important regulatory chemical substances - hormones. Reception of an endocrinologist is a prerequisite successful treatment any endocrine pathology.

What shows growth hormone test

With the help of a growth hormone test, doctors diagnose a decrease in function thyroid gland, pituitary gland, reveal tumors of the pituitary gland, hypothalamus. The study also allows adults to distinguish acromegaly (enlargement of specific body parts) from gigantism. It is necessaryobtaining analysis resultsand in monitoring the effectiveness of growth hormone treatment.

• Drop in the concentration of the hormone STH in human blood most often diagnosed in case of development of pituitary dwarfism in him. Only after functional tests the doctor makes a verdict (makes a diagnosis). A decrease in the concentration of growth hormone in the blood can be present with excessive function of the adrenal cortex, pituitary dwarfism, under the influence of radiation, chemotherapy procedures, with hypopituitarism.
• Increased levels of STH in the patient's blood can serve as a signal of gigantism or acromegaly. If the case appears to the attending physician unclear, doubtful, the concentration of this hormone is examined several times, the interval between analyzes is one or two months. An increase in the level of growth hormone in the blood is diagnosed with pituitary gigantism, acromegaly, tumors of the stomach and lungs, and power failures of the body. Also, a similar indicator can be a signal of neurogenic anorexia, liver cirrhosis, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, renal failure... And finally, an excess of this substance can be the result of prolonged fasting, stress.

Attention! Correctlydecipher the results of the hormone test only a professional doctor is capable of growth.

How much do growth hormone tests cost?

Growth hormone test price depends on the specific laboratory in which it is carried out. At the Diana clinic, the cost of this test may vary depending on the discounts offered. Samatotropic hormone test price without discounts:

How to Prepare for Growth Hormone Testing

It can be prescribed to the patient as part of a comprehensive examination, which is carried out to diagnose a specific disease. To get correct results this study it is very important that the patient observes all the rules for preparing for tests for pituitary hormones in principle and for growth hormone in particular.

What preparation includes

Preparing for a blood test for growth hormone is very simple, the patient is only required to scrupulously adhere to the following simple rules. So,before analyzesthe following requirements must be met.

• If approximately 3-5 days before the blood test, the patient underwent an X-ray or ultrasound, scanning, other medical manipulations, it is imperative to notify the attending physician about this.
• Before conducting a study, you need to be more careful about your daily menu. In particular, approximately 5 days before thegrowth hormone tests it is advisable not to eat fried, fatty foods.
• It is also highly desirable to give up all medicinal preparationsthat can lead to distorted resultsanalysis transcripts... Of course, this is not always possible, but then you need to notify the doctor about it. An exception is the situation when a study is carried out to check the effectiveness of treatment. In this case, it is necessary to stop taking the drugs prescribed by the doctor on the day of the analysis. An increase in the concentration of a somatotropic substance in the blood may well be the result of taking drugs such as bromocriptine, glucan, clonidine, estrogen, insulin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, oral contraceptives, and so on. Ideally, any drug that cannot be stopped should be discussed with your doctor.
• Three days before theblood test for hormones It is strictly forbidden to consume alcoholic beverages. It is advisable to give up cigarettes at least on the day of the study (the earlier, the better).
• 12 hours before the proceduredelivery of analysis blood you can use exclusively pure water, since the manipulation should be carried out on an empty stomach. It is also prohibited to use any other drinks - tea, coffee, mineral water, juice.
• Excessive exercise can also reduce the quality of test results. About three days before donating blood for research, it is better to start abstaining from physical exercise, engaging in any sports.

If the blood test for growth hormone is repeated, it is advisable to take it in the same laboratory, at about the same time. Where do hormone tests come from? The answer to this question is from the patient's vein. The analysis time depends on the specific laboratory.

How to decipher a growth hormone test

Growth hormone is produced in the pituitary gland and has a direct effect on the development and growth of the human body.Deciphering a blood test a specialist who is able to correctly take into account all the factors and determine the diagnosis should be engaged. However, the patient can get an approximate idea of \u200b\u200bhis condition on his own.

How to correctly decipher the analysis results

Blood test for somatotropic hormone is normal should provide the following indicators:

• 2-15 ng / ml in women;
• 2-10 ng / ml in men.

Deviations from the norm inanalysis results may indicate the following problems in the patient.

• An increased concentration of growth hormone in the human blood can be detected in cases of malnutrition of the body, tumors of the lungs, stomach, acromegaly, dwarfism, pituitary gigantism. Prolonged refusal of food, excessive physical activity of the patient can lead to an increase in this figure. This research result is also possible with neurogenic anorexia, liver cirrhosis, uncontrollable diabetes mellitus, renal failure.
• Decreased concentrationgrowth hormone in the blood, which is revealed duringanalysis, may be present as a result of hypopituarism, excessive function of the adrenal cortex, pituitary dwarfism. Also, the indicator of this substance may decrease after the influence of radiation, chemotherapy.

The results of the study can tell about the presence of a tumor of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland in the patient, make it possible to detect a reduction in the work of the thyroid and pituitary gland. It also helps to distinguish acromegaly from gigantism, to track the effectiveness of growth hormone treatment.

Where to get tested for growth hormones

You can get tested for growth hormone any day at the Diana clinic in St. Petersburg. To do this, fill out the registration form or call the clinic administrator. Be sure to ask about discounts on tests. DISCOUNT INFORMATION

Growth hormone is called somatotropin (STH), which is involved in the development of children. Growth, proportional to body formation, will depend on how it is produced.

An analysis for growth hormone is used to fully control the process in which growth hormone is produced by the anterior pituitary gland. This process occurs in waves, and the main portion is synthesized only at night in a dream.

Most often, it is recommended to conduct a series of studies that study the level of the hormone to the percentage of growth hormone in children. This is due to the fact that during this period there is a process of active growth, and therefore the slightest failure in the functioning of the growth hormone inevitably provokes the development of pathological disorders in further development child.

Growth hormone does not stop being produced even in adults, while controlling the anabolic effect in the metabolic process, affecting bone and muscle mass, specializing in protein synthesis.

What happens with hormonal disorders

The norm in children is 700 mg, and in adults - 40 mg per day. It will depend on her how the development proceeds. Hence, an excess or deficiency of the hormone STH leads to gigantism, while the lack, on the contrary, inhibits the growth of the child.

So, with gigantism, children may experience the following symptoms:

• facial features become rough;
• frequent headaches appear;
• there is a delay in sexual development;
• the child feels general weakness.

If excessive synthesis of growth hormone is diagnosed, then formations will be observed different types tumors in the pituitary gland.

If an increased amount is observed in adults, then acromegaly is observed. This leads to thickening of the bones. The main symptoms can be:

• thickening of the skin occurs;
• the size of the hands and feet may increase;
• facial features become rough;
• the patient is faced with joint disease;
• faces frequent fatigue;
• sweating increases;
• the size of the glandular organs may begin to increase;
• growth of neoplasms occurs;
• there may be an increase in the growth of various papillomas and polyps.

If you do not stop the increase in growth hormone, bringing it to a normal state, then gigantism will turn into acromegaly. This will concern serious changes in appearance and the appearance of pathological complications. These include:

• pathology causing heart disease;
• there is a violation associated with metabolism;
• various types of diabetes;
• there is a pathological change, weakening and even destruction of the joints.

For research, you must pass various analyzes, accompanied by stimulation or vice versa suppression of the production of growth hormone.

In what cases is the study carried out

Most often, a study is prescribed for suspected hormonal disorders. This is especially true for growth hormone in children. For this, tests will be prescribed, thanks to which specialists will be able to obtain information regarding the concentration of growth hormone.

All analyzes are special tests that provide objective information regarding the functions associated with the pituitary gland. Most often, a study can be a set of activities that study various hormones.

In the event that the analyzes carried out do not make it possible to obtain an objective idea related to the state of the gland, it will be recommended to undergo a study of the growth hormone itself in children or adults.

During the examination of children, insufficient or, conversely, excessive production of CHT is found out, additional research and analyzes will be assigned to obtain the most accurate information regarding the general condition.

All processes in our body are regulated by a whole complex produced by several organs. All of them are of great importance for the formation, development and functioning of the body. One of these important substances is growth hormone. It sets the external physical parameters of the human body, shapes its height and proportions.

This hormone is one of many that control the way our body works. The hormonal system is vital for the well-being of a person, therefore, a malfunction in one of the hormone-producing organs leads to the fact that the whole system goes out of tune.

The cause of violations in the production of STH can be hereditary pathology, problems with intrauterine development, malnutrition by the mother, her abuse of alcohol, narcotic and psychotropic drugs and smoking during gestation, taking some drugs, the negative impact of a poor environmental situation, poor quality water, radiation exposure and many other factors. Most often, they all act in a complex way, leading to the development of pathologies.

Growth hormone is produced in the anterior pituitary gland. Its main function is to influence the structure and development of the body. This substance affects the growth of the body, which is why we grow. The born child is very small, but by the end of puberty, under the influence of hormones produced in his body, he reaches the growth inherent in him. This indicator depends on many factors: heredity, health, nutrition and other reasons, so we all have different sizes.

But growth hormone is the main force that causes the growth of the body in general, so any significant deviations in its production lead to serious health and appearance problems.

If in the human body during puberty there is a sharp decrease in the production of growth hormone, then this condition leads to the development of dwarfism, or pituitary dwarfism. Increased production of growth hormone during puberty leads to gigantism, that is, excessively tall growth. If the growth process and the active production of STH continues into adulthood, there is an excessive overgrowth of the bones of the whole body, which leads to the development of a special disease called.

The need to pass the analysis

An analysis for growth hormone is prescribed in the event that a child of a certain age has a slow or accelerated growth, deformation of the bone skeleton with lengthening of the limbs, and in an adult with closing growth zones on the bones, their shape changes, facial features become coarse, and sexual underdevelopment.

With a general examination, the analysis is not performed, since it is necessary only if there is clinical disorders or suspected dysfunction. It makes no sense to make an analysis "just in case", since the hormone is released cyclically, in waves, so the result will never be the same, therefore, accurate.

To obtain accurate indicators, a sampling technique is used for its suppression and stimulation.

In this case, doctors have the opportunity to accurately assess the data and obtain information that is completely reliable. For further treatment, this is especially important, since the future dosage of hormones depends on this information. It must be accurate in order to avoid further "bias" in the hormonal background of the body.

Diagnostics and norm of STH

An analysis for growth hormone is performed in the study of function, if there is a suspicion of its excess or deficiency, after obtaining data on other hormones of the human body.

Before taking a sample, you must properly prepare for the procedure. To do this, it is recommended to do the following:

1. You need to donate blood on an empty stomach, preferably in the morning. Before the test, the fasting period should be at least 12 hours.
2. The day before the procedure, it is necessary to exclude all fatty foods from the diet.
3. Discontinue serious physical activity, including from sports, especially with weights. You also need to protect your body from stress and emotional overload.
4. Do not smoke for 24 hours before the analysis, so that this does not affect the accuracy of the indicators.

Growth Hormone Testing (GH Testing)

Description

Growth hormone (GH) testing is done to measure the level of human growth hormone in the blood. GH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland in the head. A doctor may order one of the following tests if there are symptoms that indicate an abnormal amount of GH:

• Tests for suppressing GH secretion - the amount of growth hormone is measured when there is a suspicion that the pituitary gland is not producing GH;
• The stimulation test is a measure of the pituitary gland's ability to secrete GH.

There are many factors that can interfere with testing for GH. Stress, physical activity, certain medications and blood glucose levels can all cause changes in GH levels. For this reason, GH tests are often done in conjunction with the measurement of other hormones, such as IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1).

Reasons for taking a growth hormone measurement

Tests with suppression of growth hormone secretion are carried out:

• For children who show signs of gigantism;
• For adults, when signs of acromegaly occur (abnormally large bone growth);
• If a pituitary tumor is suspected, it is also performed in conjunction with another test for the determination of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), which does not change over time;
• To monitor the effectiveness of GH replacement drugs (usually done in conjunction with IGF-1 testing).

Stimulation tests for GH are performed:

• For children who are very young for their age;
• When tests of the thyroid gland rule out problems with it, but growth is slower than expected;
• To check for abnormalities in the function of the pituitary gland;
• For children who have received radiation therapy;
• For children whose bones are developing abnormally;
• For adults with symptoms of muscle weakness, lack of energy, thin skin, weak bones, and other symptoms that indicate growth hormone deficiency.

How is growth hormone measured?

Preparation for the procedure

To prepare for the procedure, most patients need:

• Reduce physical activity for 10-12 hours before the test;
• If instructed by a doctor, you must stop taking medication before the test;
• For ninety minutes before the test, you need to rest and relax, and avoid physical activity.

Description of the procedure for measuring the level of growth hormone

Blood sampling

The needle insertion site will be cleaned. A tourniquet will be placed around your upper arm and a needle will be inserted into the vein. The blood will be collected in a syringe. After the syringe is filled, the needle will be removed from the skin. The puncture site is pressed.

Growth hormone suppression assays

Blood will be collected between 6 am and 8 am. You will be asked to drink a solution of water and glucose (sugar). Glucose should lower blood GH levels. Two more blood samples are taken within one to two hours after consuming the solution. The level of GH in each blood sample will be measured. IGF-1 levels can also be measured, as they do not change as much as GH levels.

Stimulation tests

Insulin Tolerance Test

Blood samples will be taken at different intervals (five samples). The first sample for blood glucose, cortisol and growth hormone will be taken between 6 am and 8 am. Then insulin is injected through a dropper. Insulin is supposed to lower blood glucose levels, which should raise GH levels. Blood samples will be collected after 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes to retest the levels of glucose, cortisol and growth hormone.

If your blood sugar has not dropped to a certain level, a second dose of insulin is given 45 minutes later. Blood samples will be drawn in 75 and 150 minutes. If your blood sugar drops too low, a glucose drip is used to restore it.

Growth hormone - releasing hormone, arginine, growth hormone - releasing peptide

Blood samples will be taken five times at different intervals. The first sample is taken between 6 am and 8 am. After 30 minutes, arginine or GH-releasing peptide will be injected through an IV. After that, a GH-releasing hormone is injected intravenously, which should stimulate the pituitary gland to produce GH. A further four blood samples are taken every 30 minutes after infusions.

After the test

You can go about your daily activities.

How long will it take to measure HGH?

The procedure often takes at least three hours.

Will it hurt?

There may be minor discomfort when the needle is inserted into the skin and the drugs are injected. Your doctor will monitor your insulin tolerance as excess insulin can lower your blood sugar levels.

Growth hormone measurement results

The doctor will tell you the test results. Further testing or treatment may be required.

Contacting your doctor after measuring your growth hormone levels

After returning home, you need to see a doctor if the following symptoms appear:

• Symptoms of infection, including fever and chills;
• Severe redness, pain, or discharge from the needle and drug infusion site.

General information about the study

The analysis determines the amount of growth hormone in the blood. Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland, a grape-sized gland located at the base of the brain behind the bridge of the nose. The hormone is usually secreted into the blood in waves during the day with a peak concentration, usually at night.

Growth hormone is essential for the normal growth and development of children, as it contributes to the growth of bones in length from the very birth of a child until the end of puberty. With a lack of growth hormone formation, the child grows more slowly. Excessive growth hormone production is often observed with a pituitary tumor (usually benign). Excessive synthesis of the hormone contributes to excessive elongation of bones and continued growth even after puberty, which can lead to gigantism (growth over 2 meters). Also, with an excess of growth hormone, rough facial features can be observed, general weakness, slow sexual development and headaches.

Although in adults, growth hormone partially loses its activity, it still plays a role in regulating bone density, maintaining muscle mass and metabolizing fatty acids: a hormone deficiency can lead to a decrease in bone density, a decrease in muscle mass, and changes in lipid levels. However, growth hormone testing is not common practice for evaluating patients with low bone density, underdeveloped muscles, and increased content lipids - a lack of growth hormone is rarely the cause of these disorders.

Excessive production of growth hormone in adults can cause acromegaly, which is characterized not by lengthening of the bones, but by their excessive thickness. Although symptoms such as thickening of the skin, sweating, fatigue, headaches and joint pain are not severe at the onset of the disease, further increases in hormone levels can lead to enlargement of the hands and feet, wrist tunnel syndrome (soreness in the wrist) and abnormal enlargement internal organs... because of increased level growth hormone sometimes papillomas appear on the body and polyps in the intestines. Left untreated, acromegaly and gigantism often lead to complications such as type 2 diabetes, an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, and an overall reduction in life expectancy.

To diagnose growth hormone abnormalities, the most common test is its stimulation and suppression. Since growth hormone is released by the pituitary gland in waves during the day, spontaneous measurement of the hormone concentration is usually not used in clinical practice.

What is research used for?

The test for growth hormone is not recommended for a general examination of the body. Basically, it is carried out only if there are suspicions of violations associated with its production, and is prescribed after performing tests for other hormones or to help in the study of the function of the pituitary gland.

The test is performed to check for excess or insufficient production of growth hormone and to obtain information on how severe the disease is. It is part of a diagnostic examination to determine the causes of abnormal growth hormone synthesis, and in addition, it can be used to assess the effectiveness of the treatment of acromegaly or gigantism.

Along with the analysis for growth hormone, an analysis for insulin-like factor is often performed. The latter also reflects an excess or deficiency of growth hormone, but its level remains stable throughout the day, thereby making it an indicator of the average content of growth hormone.

Diagnosis of FH abnormalities often includes a stimulation and suppression test, which are used to assess pituitary function and changes in growth hormone levels.

• Stimulation test helps diagnose growth hormone deficiency and hypopituitarism. To do this, the patient takes blood from a vein after 10-12 hours of abstinence from food, then a solution of insulin or arginine is injected intravenously under medical supervision. Further, blood samples are collected at regular intervals, at each of which the content of growth hormone is detected to find out whether insulin (or arginine) affects the pituitary gland, producing the expected hormone level. In addition, clonidine and glucagon are used to stimulate growth hormone.
• Suppression test helps diagnose excess hormone, and, together with other blood tests and scintigraphy, identify and localize pituitary tumors. For this test, blood is also taken after 10-12 hours of abstinence from food. The patient then takes a standard glucose solution orally, after which blood tests are done at regular intervals, in which the content of growth hormone is determined, to check if the pituitary gland is sufficiently suppressed by the dose of glucose taken.

Other tests are often used to check the functioning of the pituitary gland, such as an analysis for T4 (thyroxine), thyroid stimulating hormone, cortisol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (in men). They are usually performed before the test for growth hormone in order to make sure that their values \u200b\u200bare normal or under the control of the drugs taken. For example, hypothyroidism in children must be cured before testing for growth hormone deficiency, otherwise the results obtained may be erroneously low. The blood sample taken for the growth hormone suppression test is also used for the glucose test to ensure that the patient being examined is sufficiently suppressed by the glucose solution received.

Because exercise tends to temporarily raise levels of growth hormone, sometimes a deficiency is assessed after intense exercise over a period of time.

An analysis for growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor can periodically be prescribed to children who have undergone radioactive treatment central nervous system or radiation before stem cell transplantation. This is quite common in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, where radiation can affect the hypothalamus and pituitary gland and thus affect growth.

When is the study scheduled?

A test for stimulation of growth hormone is performed if the child has the following symptoms of growth hormone deficiency:

• stunted growth in early childhood - while the child is much shorter than his peers;
• diagnostics of the thyroid gland (for example, determination of free T4) indicates the absence of hypothyroidism (since insufficient thyroid function can also slow down growth);
• fluoroscopy indicates a delay in bone growth;
• there is a suspicion that the pituitary gland has decreased activity.

A stimulation test in adult patients may be required for symptoms of growth hormone deficiency or hypopituitarism: decreased bone density, fatigue, impaired lipid metabolism, decreased resistance to physical exercise... Usually, tests for other hormones are done first to see if other diseases are causing these symptoms. Lack of production of growth hormone is a rather rare occurrence among both children and adults. Hormone deficiency in adults can occur due to genetic predisposition to a disease of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland.

A growth hormone suppression test is performed if a child has signs of gigantism or an adult has signs of acromegaly. Such an analysis may also be required in the case when a pituitary tumor is suspected, sometimes the test is performed together with an analysis for insulin-like factor-1 and tests for other hormones to monitor the effectiveness of treatment of the disease.

Growth hormone and insulin-like factor-1 tests can be performed regularly at regular intervals over many years to monitor for possible recurrences of growth hormone abnormalities.