title: Insulin-like growth factor I: a biologic maturation indicator.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Determination of the maturation level and the subsequent evaluation of growth potential during preadolescence and adolescence are important for optimal orthodontic treatment planning and timing. This study was undertaken to evaluate the applicability of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) blood level as a maturation indicator by correlating it to the cervical vertebral maturation index.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted with 120 subjects, equally divided into 60 males (ages, 10-18 years) and 60 females (ages, 8-16 years). A lateral cephalometric radiograph and a blood sample were taken from each subject. For each subject, cervical vertebral maturation and IGF-I serum level were assessed. Mean values of IGF-I in each stage of cervical vertebral maturation were calculated, and the means in each stage were statistically compared with those of the other stages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IGF-I mean value at each cervical vertebral maturation stage was statistically different from the mean values at the other stages. The highest mean values were observed in stage 4, followed by stage 5 in males and stage 3 in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IGF-I serum level is a reliable maturation indicator that could be applied in orthodontic diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ramy Abdul Rahman
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ishaq
authors.forename: Sanaa Abou Zeid
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.forename: Manal Yehya
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Foda
authors.forename: Mona Mohamed Salah
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fayed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D002508:Cephalometry; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I