Abstract

Serum concentrations of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) were investigated upon during the increased pubertal growth spurt. One hundred and six girls aged between 9.8 to 15.5 were divided, after physical examination, into three groups according to their developmental stage of puberty (breast Tanner stage). hEGF was determined by the RIA method using kits from Amersham (code IM. 1961). Twenty one girls (mean age 10.9 years, weight 30.62±3.84 kg, height 139.5±4.3 cm) were in the first group-stage 1 of breast development (bd).Forty four girls (mean age 12.0±1.2 years, weight 38.41±7.32 kg, height 151.0±8.7 cm) were in the second group, undergoing pubertal growth spurt-stage 2 and 3 of bd. Forty one girls (mean age 13.8±0.8 years, weight 52.10±6.67 kg, height 160.9±5.8 cm) were in the third group-stage 4 and 5 of bd. The mean serum concentration level of hEGF in the first group was 0.282±0.130 ng/ml, 0.271±0.126 ng/ml in the second group and 0.232±0.073 ng/ml in the third group respectively, but the differences were not statistically significant (group I vs. group III - pp<0.061, group II vs. III - p<0.082). We did not find any correlation between serum concentration levels of hEGF and the physical parameters of increased growth during puberty. Therefore, we concluded that serum concentration levels of hEGF cannot be used as a predictor for increased growth during puberty.

Keywords: human epidermal growth factor, Puberty