Objective: GH and growth hormone binding protein in Werner's syndrome were investigated to elucidate their relation to the short stature.
Design: The levels of GH binding protein and GH response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia were determined. GH binding protein levels and its Scatchard analysis in Werner's syndrome were compared with those in normal subjects.
Patients: Three patients with Werner's syndrome (one man aged 45 years and two women aged 39 and 38 years) and 41 normal subjects (18 men and 23 women aged 39.3 +/- 5.5 years, mean +/- SD) were studied.
Measurements: GH binding protein levels were determined using an Ultrogel AcA44 minicolumn and GH levels were measured by a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay.
Results: Two out of three patients with Werner's syndrome had GH binding protein levels above the mean +/- 2SD value in normal subjects. GH secretion was impaired in Werner's syndrome as judged by the low GH response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia.
Conclusions: Elevated GH binding protein levels may lead to an increase in the bound form of GH, which is probably less bioactive, resulting in growth failure in association with the impaired GH secretion in Werner's syndrome.