title: A survey of correlation between insulin-like growth factor-I (igf-I) levels and severity of liver cirrhosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insulin-like growth factor is a polypeptide with endocrine, autocrine and paracrine effects which its structure is similar to the insulin molecule. While various tissues secrete IGF-1, 90% of the circulating IGF-1 is secreted by liver. Cirrhosis of liver is a condition accompanied by decreased level of IGF-1, in which the level of IGF-1 may be further decreased thorough the progression of the disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the relation between the IGF-1 levels and severity of liver disease according to Child- Pugh and Model for end stage liver diseases (MELD) Scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive-analytic cross sectional study performed on patients with cirrhosis admitted to gastroenterology clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran during the years 2007-2008. The diagnosis was based on liver biopsy. Initially for all patients, laboratory investigations including IGF-1, CBC, liver Enzymes, Alkaline phosphates, serum Albumin, Creatinine, direct and total Bilirubin were conducted. Also ultrasound and endoscopy were performed for evaluation of ascites and varices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  100 patients with cirrhosis with a male to Female ratio of 63:37 and a mean age of 44.4 ± 15 years were enrolled in the study. Median IGF-1 was 92.95 ± 91.51 ng/mL. 14 patients (14%) had IGF-1 within normal limits while 86 patients (86%) had abnormal IGF-1 levels. In all patients the correlation coefficient between IGF-1 and MELD was -0.317 (P = 0.001) and 0.478 between IGF-1 and Child- Pugh (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings showed that IGF-1 can be used as an index for evaluating the severity of cirrhosis; also it can be used for determining the severity of the disease, when liver biopsy is not possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Asghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khoshnood
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasiri Toosi
authors.forename: Mohammad Jafar
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Faravash
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esteghamati
authors.forename: Hosein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Froutan
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghofrani
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalani
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miroliaee
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdollahi
authors.forename: Andrabi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yasir
keywords: Child; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Liver Cirrhosis