الفهرس 
Introduction and Aim of the WorkOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The aim of this work was carried out to study serum concentrations of human GH and IGF-I and to determine the relation between them, also to determine serum levels of Procollagen-I and PRL in healthy infants and children with different percentiles on growth charts and in children with growth disorders.
In conclusion GH, IGF-I, PINP and PRL are decreased in patients with growth disorders. The lowest levels of these 4 biochemical markers were found in patients with secondary growth disorders which are growth failure resulting from chronic illness or endocrine disorder. GH and IGF-I are essential for maintaining physical growth in healthy infants and children with growth disorders but other growth factors might be needed for assessment of growth under certain conditions.
Serum concentrations of PINP reflect growth in healthy infants and children and in prepubertal children with growth disorders. Serum PINP reflects growth in normal children but due to large variations in its normal values it seems unsuitable marker for screening of growth disorders in children. Serum PRL besides general haematological and biochemical parameters including GH and IGF-I are essential for diagnosis of growth disorders.