A complex term helps explain why some children are much smaller than others their age. Insulin-like growth factor deficiency, or IGFD, is a term that describes lower than expected levels in the body of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), a naturally occurring hormone that plays a central role in growth.¹

In some children, despite ample or even higher amounts of growth hormone, IGF-1 levels still remain low and growth does not occur as it should. This condition is called severe primary IGF-1 deficiency (Primary IGFD).²

1. Lupu F, Terwilliger JD, Lee K, et al. Roles of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 in mouse postnatal growth. Dev Biol. 2001;229:141-162.

2. Increlex [package insert]. Brisbane, Calif: Tercica; 2005.

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