title: Serum IGF-I levels correlate to improvement of functional outcome after ischemic stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  GH has positive cognitive effects when given to GH-IGF-I-deficient patients. GH and IGF-I exert both neuroprotective and regenerative effects on experimental stroke. We investigated whether the endogenous serum IGF-I (s-IGF-I) levels correlated with recovery of functional independence in patients who had suffered an ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  The s-IGF-I levels were measured in 407 patients (260 males, 147 females) with mean age of 55 (range, 18-69) yr and 40 randomly selected matched controls who were previously included in the Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke. Serum samples were collected on two occasions: acutely at 1-10 d (median, 4 d) after stroke and 3 months after the stroke. Recovery after ischemic stroke was evaluated using the modified Rankin scale 3 and 24 months after the stroke, and the Scandinavian Stroke Scale was used for assessments during the acute stage and 3 months after the stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The s-IGF-I levels were higher in the acute stage than after 3 months and compared with the controls (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively), and the s-IGF-I levels were progressively lower in the elderly patients. The levels of s-IGF-I in the acute phase and after 3 months both positively correlated with improvement in the modified Rankin scale scores between 3 and 24 months (P = 0.001; r = 0.174, and P < 0.001; r = 0.24, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high s-IGF-I during the rehabilitation phase of stroke correlates to better recovery of long-term function.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, The SahlgrenskaAcademy at University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. david.aberg@medic.gu.se
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Åberg
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jood
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blomstrand
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jern
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Jörgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Isgaard
authors.forename: N David
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Aberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I