Characterization and prevalence of severe primary IGF1 deficiency in a large cohort of French children with short stature

ObjectiveThe prevalence of severe primary IGF1 deficiency (IGFD) is unclear. IGFD must be identified promptly as treatment with recombinant human IGF1 (rhIGF1) is now available. Our objective was to characterize and assess the prevalence of severe primary IGFD in a large cohort of patients evaluated for short stature at a pediatric endocrinology unit in France.DesignObservational study in a prospective cohort.MethodsConsecutive patients referred to our unit between 2004 and 2009 for suspected slow statural growth were included. Patients were classified into eight etiological categories. IGFD was defined by height ≤−3 SDS, serum IGF1 levels