%0 Journal Article %A C W Denko %A B Boja %T Growth hormone, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 in hypermobility syndrome. %D 2001 %J The Journal of Rheumatology %P 1666-1669 %V 28 %N 7 %X OBJECTIVE: To investigate growth factors in patients with hypermobility syndrome (HMS), namely insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and growth hormone (GH). METHODS: Standard radioimmunoassay quantified serum levels of insulin, IGF-1, and GH in 24 women and 7 men with HMS, and in suitable age and sex matched controls. Several patients with other heritable connective disorders were also studied, including congenital hip dysplasia and severe kyphosis. RESULTS: Patients with HMS and with otherwise unexplained joint and muscle pain were found to have elevated levels of insulin, IGF-1, and GH. Patients with heritable connective tissue disorders had elevated GH levels, and several patients had elevated insulin and IGF-1 levels. CONCLUSION: In patients with HMS, elevation of serum growth factors helps establish the diagnosis. GH alone can induce muscle and joint pain. %U https://www.jrheum.org/content/jrheum/28/7/1666.full.pdf