title: Insulin-like Growth Factors in a clinical setting: Review of IGF-I.
abstract: Interest in growth hormone (GH) is inextricably linked to the need for in depth understanding of the somatomedins (insulin-like growth factors) which are polypeptides structurally similar to insulin and with broad physiological activity. To date, the most commonly known is Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-I). Despite considerable current knowledge of IGF-I, however, its bioactivity is incompletely understood. Measurement of IGF-I is of the utmost importance in the diagnosis and treatment of, for example acromegaly and growth hormone deficiency. The development of recombinant IGF-I, has allowed its use in such cases. Clinical practice, however, shows that few young/adult patients will benefit from treatment with the rIGF-I, mecasermin, given the number of adverse effects found. This review focuses on current knowledge mainly related to IGF-I and the use of its recombinant form (rIGF-I) in clinical practice. Several functions of IGI-II have been elucidated but their clinical significance is unclear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III-Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic, I.P.Pavlova 6 - 779 00, - Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Frysak
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III-Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic, I.P.Pavlova 6 - 779 00, - Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schovanek
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Italy, Via Giustiniani 2 - 35128 - Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iacobone
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III-Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic, I.P.Pavlova 6 - 779 00, - Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karasek
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
keywords: Acid Labile Subunit; Human Growth Hormone; IGF Binding Proteins; IGF-I receptor; II; Insulin Receptor Isoform A; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Mecasermin; Recombinant Human Growth Hormone; Somatomedins; acromegaly; growth hormone deficiency