Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) in normal children, children with constitutional short stature, and children with growth hormone deficiency

Abstract

Urinary EGF was measured using a human placental membrane radioreceptor assay. This assay does not cross-react with insulin growth factor I (IGF I), somatomedin A, fibroblast, or nerve growth factors. Urinary excretion of EGF was measured in normal children (NL), in children with constitutional short stature (Con SS), untreated growth hormone deficient children (GH defic), and in growth hormone deficient children after growth hormone therapy (GH defic post Rx). EGF excretion did not differ in NL, GH defic post Rx, or Con SS children. However, it was significantly less in GH defic compared to GH defic post Rx (p<.02), NL (p<.05), and Con SS (p<.02) children. Our finding of diminished EGF excretion in untreated hGH deficiency and an EGF response to hGH therapy is the first demonstration of an alteration in EGF in association with a pathologic disorder in the human. We speculate that EGF may be implicated in hGH biologic activity.