Gender-specific soluble α-klotho levels as marker of GH deficiency in children: a case-control study.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate circulating soluble α-klotho (sαKL) levels in GHD children before and after 12 months of GH treatment (GHT). Methods Auxological and basal metabolic parameters, oral glucose tolerance test for glucose and insulin levels, insulin sensitivity indices and klotho levels were evaluated before and after 12 months of follow-up in 58 GHD children and 56 healthy controls. Results At baseline, GHD children showed significantly lower growth velocity standard deviation score (SDS) (p < 0.001), bone/chronological age ratio (p < 0.001), GH peak and area under the curve (AUC) after arginine test (ARG) (both p < 0.001) and glucagon stimulation test (GST) (p < 0.001 …