Serum immunoreactive somatomedin-C levels in growth failure and delayed puberty associated with chronic hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.

Eleven patients, five males, six females, aged 14-20 years with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (HSS), growth failure and delayed puberty were submitted to endocrine evaluation. All patients had well preserved parenchymal liver function although several changes were present in the portal system, showing a poorly vascularized liver. Bone age was retarded, thyroid function was normal, the human growth hormone response to hypoglycaemia was within the normal limits and the prolactin response to TRH was normal. LH and FSH basal levels were normal and a normal rise was observed after a provocative test with LHRH. Gonadal function, expressed as serum testosterone or oestradiol levels, was abnormally low for the chronological age. Serum somatomedin-C levels were also low (range 0.11-2.10 U/ml) for the respective Tanner stage or bone age of each individual patient. One year after a splenorenal shunting in the three patients that returned for follow-up, it was observed that sexual maturation reached Tanner stage III, linear growth increment ranged from 9.0 to 11.5 cm and serum somatomedin-C levels increased to 4.3-5.6 U/ml. We concluded that a combination of undernutrition and marked vascular changes in the liver, present in HSS, are associated with decreased serum sex steroids and somatomedin-C concentrations, resulting in growth failure and delayed puberty in these patients.