Serum level of insulin like growth factor-1 in children with chronic liver disease

Abstract EN

Background: Malnutrition and growth retardation are important consequences of CLD in childhood.

Although IGF is a marker of protein metabolism, that can be used to assess malnutrition.

However, in CLD, with impaired IGF synthesis, its use may lead to an exaggeration of the degree of malnutrition.

Objectives: To determine the level of IGF-1 in these patients and to demonstrate the relation between its level and the degree of malnutrition and the degree of hepatic dysfunction.

Methodology: Fifty children with CLD, recruited from the outpatient clinic of pediatric hepatology and from the pediatric hepatology department of Pediatric Hospital, Cairo University were enrolled in the study.

Their mean age was 2.05 years ranged from (0.5 to 5.75) years.

They were compared with an age and sex- matched normal healthy children (control group).

Anthropometric measurements, liver function tests and serum level of IGF-1 were performed.

Assessment of severity of liver disease was done using the modified Child- Pugh score.

Results: Results revealed that serum IGF-1 level was significantly lower in patients compared to control, and it was significantly lower in Child Pugh C compared to Child Pugh B and A, and it was significantly lower in Child Pugh B compared to Child Pugh A.

Moreover, there was no significant correlation between any of the anthropometric parameters and serum IGF-1.

Conclusion: In CLD, IGF-1 level is inversely correlated to the degree of liver dysfunction rather than the degree of malnutrition.