Levels and diagnostic values of serum visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor and secreted frizzle-related protein 5 in children with idiopathic short stature

Background: Idiopathic short stature (ISS) is a common type of short stature. We aimed to analyze the diagnostic values of serum visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor (Vaspin) and secreted frizzle-related protein 5 (SFRP5) for ISS children.

Methods: Sixty-five ISS children treated from February 2019 to June 2022 were selected as an ISS group, while another 65 healthy children receiving physical examination in the same period were selected as a healthy group. Their general data, physical development status, levels of serum Vaspin and SFRP5, and levels of serum growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)/growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis-related indicators were compared.

Results: The ISS group had lower body height, body weight, bone age, growth velocity and serum SFRP5 level and higher serum Vaspin level than those of the healthy group (P<0.05). The levels of serum GHRH, GH and IGF-1 were lower in the ISS group than those in the healthy group (P<0.05). Body height, body weight, bone age, growth velocity, and levels of GHRH, GH and IGF-1 were negatively correlated with serum Vaspin level (r<0, P<0.05) but positively correlated with serum SFRP5 level (r>0, P<0.05). The areas under the ROC curves of serum Vaspin and SFRP5 and their combination for the diagnosis of ISS were 0.871 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.812-0.929], 0.880 (95% CI: 0.824-0.935) and 0.942 (95% CI: 0.907-0.977), respectively.

Conclusions: Children with ISS have a higher level of serum Vaspin but a lower level of SFRP5, and the combined detection has a higher diagnostic value for ISS.