Insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in women with premenstrual syndrome

Objective: To determine whether women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) have aberrations of the GH axis as has been demonstrated in individuals with depression.

Design: Prospective trial.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Los Angeles.

Patient(s): After prospective screening, 32 healthy women with PMS and 32 asymptomatic controls completed the study.

Intervention(s): Subjects completed a daily PMS symptom diary and a Beck Depression Inventory. They underwent phlebotomy 5 days and 12 days after the LH midcycle surge, which was identified with the use of a urinary LH detection kit.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), E₂, and progesterone.

Result(s): Levels of IGF-1, IGFBP-3, E₂, and progesterone did not differ between women with prospectively documented PMS and control subjects.

Conclusion(s): Premenstrual syndrome and affective disorder share common symptoms and possibly a common cause. Biochemical markers such as alterations in the somatotropic system often are associated with major depression. Levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 did not differ between women with PMS and control subjects, supporting the concept that PMS and endogenous depression are biologically distinct entities.