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Original Studies |
Paediatric Endocrinology Section (K.A.W., C.C.-H., M.O.S.), Department of Endocrinology, St. Bartholomews Hospital, London EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom; Department of Physiology and Biophysics (R.N.B.), University of Southern California Medical School, Los Angeles, California; Queen Elizabeth Hospital (D.B.), Kings Lynn, Norfolk, United Kingdom; and Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory (A.J.L.C.), Department of Endocrinology, St. Bartholomews Hospital, London EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom
Address correspondence and requests for reprints to: Professor M. O. Savage, Paediatric Endocrinology Section, Department of Endocrinology, St. Bartholomews Hospital, London EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom.
| Abstract |
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In this patient with severe insulin resistance, therapy with rhIGF-I resulted in beneficial effects on Si, body composition, bone size, and linear growth. These results have implications for IGF-I therapy in a variety insulin resistant states.
| Introduction |
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IGF-I deficiency caused by GH resistance is also seen in GH receptor deficiency (GHRD) (2, 3). However, because this condition is secondary to inactivating mutations of the GH receptor gene, affected individuals lack the biologic effects of both GH and IGF-I. In recent years, recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) therapy has become available for treatment of individuals with GHRD, and a number of studies have now reported improvement in growth (4, 5, 6, 7). However, the growth response to rhIGF-I in GHRD is more modest than that usually seen in individuals with severe GH deficiency (GHD) treated with human GH (8), which may suggest that a direct GH effect is necessary for optimal growth. Other possible explanations for the suboptimal growth response in GHRD include the low levels of the GH-dependent peptides IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and acid labile subunit (ALS), which normally stabilize IGF-I in the circulation (9, 10).
In this patient with IGF-I gene deletion, direct GH actions are intact, and both IGFBP-3 and ALS are present in normal amounts. GH secretion is elevated, resulting in reduced Si (1). Systemic rhIGF-I therapy, in this child, has been shown to restore the functioning of the GH-IGF-I axis close to normal (11), although it can not restore paracrine/autocrine effects of IGF-I. In addition to their role in growth, both GH and IGF-I have effects on glucose and lipid metabolism and bone mineralization (7, 12). This report describes the effects of 12 months of rhIGF-I therapy on this patients body composition, bone mineralization, Si, and linear growth.
| Subjects and Methods |
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We have previously reported the full details of the case history (1). At the age of 15.75 yr, auxological parameters were as follows: height, 119.1 cm (-6.88 SD); weight, 23.0 kg (-6.49 SD); body mass index, 16.2 kg/m2 (-1.9 SD); upper-to-lower segment ratio, 1.07 (mean, 0.98 at 15 yr); triceps skinfold thickness, 6.0 cm (-0.93 SD); and subscapular skinfold thickness, 7.6 cm (-0.0 SD). The patient was mildly dysmorphic, with micrognathia, bilateral ptosis, and a low hairline. There was bilateral clinodactyly and a left-sided single palmar crease. Neurological examination demonstrated severe bilateral sensorineural deafness and mild myopia.
Endocrine investigations revealed elevated GH secretion, both on overnight GH profile (peaks up to 350 mU/L with lack of full suppression during troughs) and to provocative stimuli (clonidine: peak, 188 mU/L; insulin: peak, 122 mU/L). IGF-I levels were undetectable. IGFBP-3 was normal for age (3.3 mg/L), IGF-II mildly elevated (1430 ng/mL; normal serum pool, 1002 ng/mL), and ALS was normal on immunoblot. Molecular studies revealed a homozygous IGF-I gene deletion involving exons 4 and 5, predicting a severely truncated and abnormal IGF-I peptide. His parents, who were consanguineous, were heterozygous for the deletion.
rhIGF-I therapy was commenced at the age of 16.07 yr (bone age, 14.2 yr). Height was 120.4 cm (-7.44 SD) and Tanner stage of puberty P2, G2, testicular volume (Tvol) 8/10 mL. The starting dose of rhIGF-I was 40 µg/kg by daily sc injection. After 3 months of therapy, an overnight GH profile indicated that GH secretion remained elevated, and the dose was increased to 80 µg/kg·day. A repeat overnight GH profile indicated adequate GH suppression on this dose (11), which was continued for the remaining 9 months of treatment.
Auxology
Height measurements were obtained using a wall-mounted stadiometer. Bone age was assessed using the Tanner-Whitehouse-2 RUS method (13).
Assays
Levels of androgens, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and insulin were measured by standard RIA procedures. Glucose levels were determined by a glucose analyzer. Bone turnover markers (serum osteocalcin and bone specific alkaline phosphatase) were assayed using immunoassays obtained from Metra Biosystems UK (Great Haseley, Oxford, UK).
Bergman-modified minimal model frequent sampling iv glucose tolerance test (FSIGT)
The 180-min FSIGT was used to provide an accurate assessment of ß-cell function and Si in the patient. These parameters are calculated after a bolus of IV glucose at 0 min and tolbutamide at 20 min, and computer mathematical analysis of insulin and glucose kinetics using the MINMOD program (the minimal modeling technique). This test has been validated for use in children (14).
The test was performed at three time points: test 1, pretreatment; test 2, after 1 month therapy with IGF-I (dose 40 µg/kg·day); and test 3, after 6 months therapy with IGF-I (dose 80 µg/kg·day). Samples for the analysis of insulin and glucose were taken at the following times (minutes): -15, -10, -5, -1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, and 180. Glucose (300 µg/kg) was injected at t = 0 and tolbutamide (100 mg/kg) at t = 20. The following parameters were calculated using MINMOD: 1) insulin sensitivity (Si); 2) glucose effectiveness (Sg); and 3) acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg). The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee, and informed written consent was obtained from the patients parents.
Determination of bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition
BMD and body composition were determined at three time points (pretreatment, 6 months on treatment, and 12 months on treatment) by dual-energy x-ray absorbtiometry using the Lunar Corp. DPX densitometer (Supplied by Aura Scientific, West Lothian, UK). Baseline lumbar (L2L4) BMD was converted to an age-matched SD score using Lunar Corp. pediatric software (control data collected by Lunar Corp.). To correct for bone size, the volumetric BMD [bone mineral apparent density (BMAD)] of the lumbar spine was calculated at each time point, using the formula BMAD = BMC/(Ap)1.5, where BMC = bone mineral content, and AP = projected area (15)
Adverse effects
Regular ophthalmic and ear, nose, and throat examinations were performed to monitor for the development of papilloedema and tonsillar hypertrophy at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months of therapy.
| Results |
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Over the first 6 months of rhIGF-I therapy (3 months at 40
µg/kg·day and 3 months at 80 µg/kg·day), there was a marked
reduction in total body fat, from 19.9% to 15.1%, which increased
during the subsequent 6 months of rhIGF-I therapy (80 µg/kg·day
throughout), to result in a net elevation from baseline at 21.8%
(Table 1
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Lumbar BMD at baseline was severely reduced, compared with age-matched controls (L2L4 region, 0.58 g/cm 2; SD score, -4.88). BMAD at baseline was 0.14 g/cm3. Appropriate age- and sex-matched control values for BMAD have not been published; however, this value compares with a BMAD of 0.165 g/cm3 ± - 0.114 SD in 75 female subjects (mean age, 24.4 yr), calculated using the same formula (15). Over the 1 yr of therapy, BMD increased by 17% and bone mineral content by 26%. BMAD increased by 7%. Markers of bone formation and turnover (serum osteocalcin and bone specific alkaline phosphatase) increased substantially by 6 months. By 12 months, levels remained above baseline but were lower than the 6-month values.
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Before initiation of rhIGF-I therapy, there was fasting hyperinsulinemia [insulin, 28.9 mU/L (normal range, NR, for stage 2 puberty, 818)], although plasma glucose (mean, 4.9 mmol/L) and glycated hemoglobin [3.2% (NR, 35%)] were normal. Administration of both iv glucose and tolbutamide resulted in an exaggerated insulin response. Using the MINMOD program, Si was markedly reduced, and AIRg was greatly elevated. Sg was normal. There was a dose-dependent improvement in Si and AIRg to rhIGF-I therapy, the higher (80 µg/kg·day) dose resulting in a fall of Si into the NR for age and puberty status. SHBG was initially undetectable and increased almost into the normal adult range.
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Pretreatment height velocity was 3.8 cm/yr. On rhIGF-I (40 µg/kg for 3 months), height velocity increased modestly to 4.2 cm/yr. After the increase in rhIGF-I dose to 80 µg/kg, there was a more pronounced increase in height velocity, to 7.3 cm/yr. Puberty progressed from G2, PH2, Tvol 8/10 to G4, PH4, Tvol 12/12 over the 12 months of therapy.
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The patient reported no significant adverse effects of rhIGF-I therapy. In particular, no hypoglycemic episodes occurred after rhIGF-I injection, as observed in rhIGF-I therapy of patients with GHRD (8). Regular opthalmologic and ear, nose, and throat examinations revealed no evidence of papilloedema or adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
| Discussion |
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A marked reduction in Si, using the modified FSIGT devised by Bergman and co-workers, confirmed that this patient was significantly insulin resistant before the onset of rhIGF-I therapy. Marked hypersecretion of insulin, in response to glucose and tolbutamide, was observed, suggesting exaggerated ß-cell reactivity, a feature often associated with insulin-resistant states (16). Sustained exposure to elevated GH levels is well described to reduce Si, as seen in conditions such as acromegaly (17, 18, 19). An increase in the direct effects of GH, secondary to the elevation in GH secretion at baseline, thus provides the likely explanation for the insulin resistance of this patient. This hypothesis is supported by the dose-dependent improvement in Si observed during rhIGF-I therapy. Elevated GH secretion is thought to be one explanation for the insulin resistance observed in adolescent insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and rhIGF-I therapy has been shown to improve glycemic control in this condition (20).
SHBG levels, reduced to below the limits of assay detection at baseline, increased into the NR for age and pubertal stage during rhIGF-I therapy. This may reflect either the fall in insulin or GH levels during therapy, both of which have an inverse relationship with SHBG (21, 22, 23).
IGF-I has been described to have both short-term antilipolytic and long-term lipolytic effects (12). Patients with severe GHD and GHRD tend to have increased adiposity, most likely secondary to the lack of the direct antilipolytic effect of GH (24). The body fat content of our patient, at 19.9%, is considerably less than that of prepubertal GHRD children in a recent study, in whom the mean total body fat was 28.3% (7). In the first 6 months of IGF-I therapy, his total body fat fell, but by 12 months there had been a net increase. This gain in body fat, suggesting an overall lipogenic effect of treatment, may be secondary to the fall in GH levels induced by rhIGF-I, which for the first 3 months of therapy were inadequately suppressed on the lower dose of rhIGF-I.
The measurement of BMD, using dual-energy x-ray absorbtiometry scanning in short children and adults, is confounded by the effects of reduced bone size and may lead to underestimation of true bone density (25). The effect of reduced bone size on the calculation of BMD can be overcome, however, by the calculation of BMAD (15). Both children and adults with GHD have been reported to have reduced BMAD, suggesting that GH, either acting directly on bone tissue and/or mediated by IGF-I, plays an important role in bone mineralization (26, 27, 28). Children with GHRD have also been reported to have low BMD, which improves with rhIGF-I therapy (7); however, BMD was not adjusted for height in this study. In contrast, a recent study of adults with GHRD demonstrated no reduction in BMAD, compared with controls, thereby questioning the role of the GH-IGF-I axis in bone mineralization (29). Our patient had a low BMD, compared with age-matched controls at baseline. However, his baseline BMAD was only mildly reduced, compared with a reference population of young adult women. During rhIGF-I therapy, BMD and BMC increased markedly and BMAD less so, suggesting that much of the apparent increase in BMD was, in fact, attributable to an increase in bone size. As puberty progressed from Tanner stage 2 to stage 4 during the period of therapy, the modest increase in BMAD may well be secondary to the effects of puberty, which has been shown to be associated with an increase in BMAD (30), rather than an effect of rhIGF-I therapy. Thus, rhIGF-I had a much greater effect on bone growth than on bone mineralization.
A growth response to rhIGF-I was clearly seen, with a near doubling of growth velocity on the higher (80 µg/kg·day) dose of rhIGF-I. Considering that the patient was in puberty at the time of rhIGF-I administration, this growth response is perhaps less than might be expected for a similar individual with severe GHD receiving hGH therapy for the first time. Direct GH actions are intact in our patient, and rhIGF-I clearance is normal. However, systemic rhIGF-I therapy cannot correct the lack of local IGF-I production, and this may be the explanation for the suboptimal growth response.
In summary, this paper reports the results of rhIGF-I therapy for 1 yr in this unique patient with IGF-I gene deletion. The main benefits of therapy were an improvement in body composition and normalization of Si. rhIGF-I has the potential to improve metabolic status in a variety of insulin-resistant states.
| Acknowledgments |
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Received June 29, 1999.
Revised October 18, 1999.
Accepted December 15, 1999.
| References |
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