Plasma insulin-like growth factor-1, type 1 procollagen, and serum tumor necrosis factor alpha in children recovering from Trichuris dysentery syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To explore: 1) the relationship between plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and other markers of growth; and 2) the effect of serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) on growth variables in children (2-10 years) stunted by Trichuris dysentery syndrome (TDS), recovering cases, and their matched controls.


METHODS
Fourteen patients with TDS were admitted to the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, treated with albendazole and iron, and then followed with matched controls (n = 28) for 1 year. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were done on admission and then every 3 months for the year. Plasma IGF-1, the carboxyterminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen, serum TNF, total serum protein, serum albumin, and complete blood count were determined.


RESULTS
Low admission plasma levels of IGF-1 in TDS cases were accompanied by high serum levels of TNF, and total serum protein, normal serum albumin, low hemoglobin, reduced collagen synthesis (low plasma carboxyterminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen), and growth failure. These variables improved significantly after treatment. Plasma levels of IGF-1 were significantly related to the Z-scores for height-for-age (r = 0.60, 0.73, 0.68) and weight-for-age (r = 0.69, 0.80, 0.69) of cases and controls, height-for-age (r = 0.51, 0.52, 0.54) and weight-for-age (r = 0.51, 0.52, 0.54) at each measurement throughout the year. Serum levels of TNF were not related to any of the growth variables.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings may contribute to the understanding of growth failure in children affected by other forms of chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Duff
E M
EM
Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies. nander@uwimona.edu.jm
Anderson
N M
NM
Cooper
E S
ES
D000818:Animals; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004403:Dysentery / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D011347:Procollagen; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I