Physical growth and retinopathy in preterm infants: involvement of IGF-I and GH.
GH and IGF-I are important for physical growth. We measured serum levels of these factors in preterm infants. The study population (n = 81) was divided into three groups according to the gestational age. We evaluated differences in serum GH and IGF-I levels among groups with regard to physical growth and development of retinopathy of prematurity. Serum GH levels in extremely preterm infants born at <28 wk of gestational age were significantly higher than levels in those born between 28 and 34 wk at 1 and 2 mo of age. In contrast, serum IGF-I levels in extremely preterm infants remained low, whereas those in the other two groups gradually increased. Evaluation of the effects of GH and IGF-I on physical growth in very low birth weight infants (<1500 g) showed that IGF-I concentrations were positively related to physical growth for several months after birth, whereas no relationship was observed between GH and physical growth. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that high GH concentration at 1 mo of age was significantly associated with development of severe retinopathy of prematurity. In conclusion, persistent low serum IGF-I levels may explain the slow physical growth during neonatal life, and exposure of high GH may cause, at least in part, severe retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants.
Hikino
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Ihara
K
K
Yamamoto
J
J
Takahata
Y
Y
Nakayama
H
H
Kinukawa
N
N
Narazaki
Y
Y
Hara
T
T
D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I