Serum somatomedin a in Perthes' disease

Abstract

Serum somatomedin A, determined by radioreceptor assay in 47 children with Perthes' disease, was significantly reduced as compared to normal children of the same age. Nine children underwent the 1-Dopa tolerance tests to evoke growth hormone release; a normal response was found in eight.

Patients with Perthes' disease tend to be short in stature with “disproportionate skeletal growth” of the limbs; growth is less in the distal than in the proximal extremities. The low serum levels of somatomedin A suggest some growth disturbance during the development of Perthes' disease.

Key words:

• growth disturbance
• growth hormone
• Perthes' disease
• skeletal growth
• somatomedin A