IGF-1 level measurement is one of the best laboratory tests to diagnose acromegaly. The IGF-1 level is elevated in all patients with acromegaly.
IGF-1 measurement has been recommended in the patients with acromegaly clinical features.
IGF-1 measurement has been recommended in the patients who do not have the typical acral features but have associated conditions like sleep apnea and carpal tunnel syndrome to confirm or exclude acromegaly.
IGF-1 level is measured also in the patients with only pituitary adenoma to exclude acromegaly.
IGF-1 is affected by some factors as the age of the patient, genes, sex hormones and steroids. Although it is one of the best lab tests to diagnose acromegaly, it is not used alone in the diagnosis. Therefore, measurement of the growth hormone is recommended when the IGF-1 level is elevated.[3]
Oral glucose normally suppresses the growth hormone secretion. The level of growth hormone after administration of 75mg glucose decreases to less than 1 ng/ml.
In patients with acromegaly, administrations of the oral glucose will not suppress the GH secretion. Hereby, oral glucose tolerance test is one of the best laboratory confirming tests of acromegaly.
It is recommended to measure the growth hormone level before and after administration of glucose. GH level is measured after two hours of the administration and the diagnostic level is more than ng/ml.[5]