Insulin-like growth factor I: a good indicator of functional hepatocellular capacity in alcoholic liver cirrhosis.
To assess the value of serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) determination in liver disease, 21 patients hospitalized for active alcoholic cirrhosis (19 males, 2 females), 56 +/- 2 y (mean +/- SE) were studied at admission. Individual scores of hepatic alterations (Child score) ranged from 6 to 12 (mean: 9 +/- 1). Basal IGF-I levels were dramatically decreased, averaging 0.11 +/- 0.02 U/ml vs 0.70 +/- 0.08 U/ml in 15 control subjects. In cirrhotic patients, IGF-I values were inversely correlated with the modified Child index (r = 0.57, p less than 0.01). A highly significant positive correlation (r = 0.68, p less than 0.001) was evidenced between IGF-I levels and aminopyrine breath test values (which provide quantitative estimates of the hepatic functional capacity). In contrast, no significant relationship was found between IGF-I levels and various nutritional parameters (albumin, prealbumin, retinol binding protein) after partial correlation analysis. The present data suggest that, in alcoholic cirrhosis, the decrease of circulating IGF-I values is mainly related to alterations of liver function, and that IGF-I can be used as a good indicator of functional hepatocellular capacity.
Caufriez
A
A
Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, St-Pierre Hospital, University of Brussels, Belgium.
Reding
P
P
Urbain
D
D
Golstein
J
J
Copinschi
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I