Serum Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels in Women with Postadolescent Acne

Background and Design: Acne vulgaris is an inflammatory disease of pilosebaceous unit. It usually starts after puberty but may continue into adulthood. We studied Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 levels in women patients with acne vulgaris in whom all other hormon levels were normal. We aimed to show any relation of the acne vulgaris lesion type and GH and IGF-1 levels. Material and Method: The study conducted on the postadolesance period woman patients applying to out patient dermatology department with complaint of acne symptoms between Semtember 2005 and July 2006. All other hormonal parameters were normal in patients. 25 healthy similar age women were accepted as control. IGF-I and GH were quantified by solid-phase competitive chemiluminescence assays. Results: There was no difference according to age between the groups (p=0.726). The mean IGF-1 level was 336.5 +/- 112.88 ng/ml in patients and 194 +/- 31.32 ng/ml in control; the difference was significantly important (p=0.000). The mean GH level was 3.16 +/- 4.35 mu IU/ml in patients and 1.15 +/- 1.21 mu IU/m1 in control; and the diffrence was not found as important (p=0.03). IGF-1 level was significantly important in patients with noduler involvement (p=0.015), and GH level was also significantly important in patients with cystic involvement (p=0.05). Conclusion: We supported the hypothesis that GH and IGF-1 levels were important in postadolasence period women patients with acne vulgaris. We recommend new studies comparing GH and IGF-1 levels in adolesence and postadolesence period women patients in order to support the role of these hormones in pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. (Turkderm 2010; 44: 69-72)