The first thing is to remember is that each centre will have its own IGF-1 reference range for what is "normal" for their actual assay test.

Oh, and remember that the units that they use to express the value is crucial too.

So, having said that, from my book "Basic & Clinical Endocrinology" (Greenspan)

IGF-1, Female
>55 years:
71-290 ug/L
9.2-37.7 nmol/L
(the 'u' above is the 'micro' symbol - but can't type it here)

It's the ug/L units that they use at our hospital. My value was over 1200 ug/l when first diagnosed.

Don't worry - they are probably just checking everything, and just eliminating options at this stage. I'm sure you are in very good hands, as it's a good sign that they taking tests and double-checking them.

Trys
www.acromegaly.wordpress.com

biggest biggest hugs...Im with Trys its very good you are just being checked and double checked..An endo who is bothering YAH..try not to worry I know easy said than done but its good someone is looking..someone whos ruling out things its like a mechanic doing a proper MOT checking everything and I would be pleased with this..

Kinda off the subject but ..... There is talk going around that specialit/researchers in the field say that IGF-1 can pulsate just like cortisol does in cyclical Cushings. Cyclical GH? Who knows but dont rule it out.
I had acromegaly ( surgery) and I am now testing for cushings and have random highs in serum, urine and salivas.

I didnt have that visual typical symptoms of Acro. I kept telling doctors my ring sizes changed 2 sizes and I grew an inch and 1/2. No one would believe me because I was petite and now I look normal. I was born a small baby, a twin. Good thing your doctor is checking everything. Read alot about this disease, so you can be informed.

Thanks for the feedback and support --- it makes waiting so much easier! My endo is not back in the office till Monday but her assistant had my numbers: 208 in a range of 81-225. Will find out what it all means next week. I'm still worried but a little less so.

I'm wondering about something...I've read how people use IGF-1 to prolong life and my grandparents and great aunts all lived to be 98-103. Could having a high normal reading perhaps help towards longevity? Maybe this is a good genetic thing but medicine isn't used to dealing with long-lived people? What do you think?

My endo worries that I may have a very small tumor and that she's just catching it before symptoms appear. Guess I just have to take this step-by-step.

The waiting to know for sure is so hard. I think you all should get medals!

208 is not a bad number, still in range. I was at over 1000 micrograms/l before surgery. (My hospital uses different units but it converts to that). Post-surgery and with drug treatment I am still over where you are today. No need to panic, especially if you are showing no symptoms, as such tumours (if indeed you have one) tend to be very slow-growing.

If your endo thinks you are borderline high for IGF-1, and that you might have a very small tumour, then thank him/her for their vigilance.

John

John

I am 57, female, and Mayo Clinic's lab says my normal range is 80-240 for me. Before surgery it was 917. So, it sounds like the odds are in your favor. However, I am curious as to why the endo is pursuing this if you have no other symptoms. Did they also run a growth hormone test? I agree with the others- be thankful they are checking carefully, and hopefully it will be totally unnecessary.

My endo says that although the results of the last test were within the normal range she wants to redo the IGF-1 test in a month and also do a GH test at that time. How is a GH test done?

My endo is being very careful because I guess I have one thing that has happened in my adult life that causes her to be mildly concerned and that is I have grown a 1/2 to full foot size larger. I'm a marathon walker and my foot has grown from a size 9 to a size 9 1/2 - 10 in that time. However most of the women I walk with have also had this happen due to the stress on the foot. So who knows? May be nothing at all...

But I am at the higher end of normal range so perhaps that's why she's being so diligent.

Thanks again for being here. After reading other posts I realize I'm very lucky to have basically no symptoms and such low numbers...but again I really appreciate you taking the time to read and help me through this!