Circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in patients with severe head injury.
There is evidence to suggest that fractures heal more rapidly in patients with a head injury as a result of systemic factors released from the site of this injury. We have measured the circulating level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in serum because of their known involvement in the stimulation of the activity of osteoblasts and the healing of fractures. The serum level of IGF-1 was significantly lower in patients with both head injury and fracture and fracture only compared with that in healthy volunteers (p < 0.01 and p < 0.02, respectively). The level of IGFBP-3 was also significantly lower in patients with both head injury and fracture (p < 0.01). Our findings showed, however, that the level of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 varied from week to week in both the patients and healthy control subjects. These results indicate that the levels of circulating IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 are unlikely to be responsible for the altered healing of fractures seen in conjunction with head injury.
Beeton
C A
CA
Orthopaedic Research Unit, University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke 's Hospital, England, UK.
Brooks
R A
RA
Chatfield
D
D
Human
M
M
Rushton
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I