Abstract
An association of growth hormone (GH) and chronic arthritis has been demonstrated in patients with primary osteoarthritis (OA), in patients with acromegaly and in animals with experimental arthritis. We investigated a possible role for the growth factors, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin and GH in the aetiopathogenesis of OA by measuring serum levels in OA patients with symptoms and in OA patients without symptoms.
Quantification was by standardized radioimmunoassays. Symptomatic OA patients with pain and characteristic radiological changes, joint-space narrowing and bony overgrowth had elevated GH and insulin levels and reduced IGF-1 levels. Asymptomatic OA patients with only characteristic radiographic changes had normal levels of these growth factors. These data suggest that growth factors may have a role in symptomatic OA, with GH acting as an inciting factor. Treatment should include correction of these metabolic perturbations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Franchimont P, Denis F. Determination du taux de somatotrophines dans cas d’arthrose apparaissant lors de menopause. J Belge Rheumatol Med Phys. 1968;23:59–64.
Denko C. Restorative chemotherapy in degenerative hip disease. Agents and Actions. 1979;8:268–79.
Dequeker J, Burssens A, Bouillon R. Dynamics of growth hormone secretion in patients with osteoarthritis. Hormone Res. 1982;16:353–6.
Denko C, Boja B, Moskowitz R. Growth promoting peptides in osteoarthritis: insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, growth hormone. J Rheumatol. 1990;17:1217–21.
Reinhardt W, Li CH. Experimental production of arthritis in rats by hypophyseal growth hormone. Science. 1953;117:295–7.
Berczi I, Nagy E, Asa S, Kovacs K. The influence of pituitary hormones on adjuvant arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1984;27:682–93.
Layton M, Fudman E, Barkan A, Braunstein E, Fox I. Acromegalic arthropathy. Arthritis Rheum. 1988;31:1022–7.
Podgorski M, Robinson B, Weissberger A, Stiel J, Wang S, Brooks P. Articular manifestations of acromegaly. Aust NZ J Med. 1988;18:28–35.
Denko CW. Osteoarthritis: A metabolic disorder. In: Rainsford KD, Velo GP, eds. New developments in antirheumatic therapy, vol III. Inflammation and Drug Therapy Series. Lancaster. Kluwer Academic Publishers; 1989:29–35.
Editorial: Insulin and hypertension: lessons from obesity. N Engl J Med. 1987; 317:378–9.
Documenta Geigy: Scientific Tables, 5th edn. (with supplement) Geigy. Basle; 1959:255.
Lacks S, Jacobs RP. Acromegalic arthropathy: A reversible rheumatic disease. J Rheumatol. 1986;13:634–6.
Perry GH, Smith MJG, Whiteside CG. Spontaneous recovery of joint space in degenerative hip disease. Ann Rheum Dis. 1972;31:440–8.
Storey GO, Landells JW. Restoration of the femoral head after collapse in osteoarthrosis. Ann Rheum Dis. 1971;30:406–12.
Denko CW. Regeneration, repair and their control by pharmacological agents. In: Bonta L, Bray MA, Parnham MJ, eds. Handbook of inflammation, vol 5: The pharmacology of inflammation. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 1985:179–94.
Denko CW, Aponte J, Gabriel P, Petrocevic M. Serum B-endorphin in rheumatic disorders. J Rheumatol. 1982;9:827–33.
Aloe L, Tuveri MA, Carcassi U, Levi-Montalcini R. Nerve growth factor in synovial fluid of patients with chronic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1992;35:351–5.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Denko, C.W., Boja, B. Growth factors in asymptomatic osteoarthritis - insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, growth hormone. Inflammopharmacology 2, 71–76 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02663743
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02663743