Serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in patients with liver cirrhosis
Vyzantiadis, T.; Theodoridou, S.; Giouleme, O.; Harsoulis, P.; Evgenidis, N.; Vyzantiadis, A.
Hepato-Gastroenterology 50(51): 814-816
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0172-6390 PMID: 12828091 Document Number: 553311
Background/Aims: Insulin-like growth factor-I is an important anabolic polypeptide with various effects. The circulating insulin-like growth factor-I is mainly liver derived. The aim of this study was to determine insulin-like growth factor-I serum levels in patients with cirrhosis and to clarify their association with patients' clinical condition and the etiology of cirrhosis. Methodology: Forty patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled. Cirrhosis was in 22 cases induced by virus, in 10 due to primary biliary cause and in the rest 8 of alcoholic origin. The Child score index was found as A (n=26), B (n=9), C (n=5). Twenty, age-matched healthy subjects, were used as a control group. Serum insulin-like growth factor-I was measured by an immunoradiometric assay in all subjects. Results: Serum insulin-like growth factor-I levels in liver cirrhosis were found very significantly lower than in healthy individuals (57.4+-7.0ng/mL vs. 198.8+-16.3ng/mL, p=0.0000001). In liver cirrhosis insulin-like growth factor-I was negatively correlated with spleen enlargement (r= -0.46, p=0.0031). Child B and C patients showed significantly reduced insulin-like growth factor-I levels in comparison to patients staged as Child A (28.9+-3.0ng/mL vs. 72.8+-9.3ng/mL, p=0.0016). The comparison of 12 patients with viral induced cirrhosis (Child A) to 14 patients with non-viral cirrhosis, of the same clinical stage, showed non-significant difference (84.2+-16ng/mL vs. 63.1+-10.3ng/mL, p=0.27). Conclusions: Insulin-like growth factor-I synthesis is disturbed in liver cirrhosis and reflects the severity of the clinical stage. It represents a good marker of hepatic function. The etiology of cirrhosis does not seem to influence its levels.