Significance of measuringigf-1 levels in adolescent patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus as a prognostic marker of glycaemic and lipid profile control

Abstract EN

The study aimed at evaluating the effect of elevated serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which is a by-product of growth hormone in the body on glycaemic control (assessed by measuring HbA1c) and lipid profiles in adolescent patients (aged between 12 and 18 years) suffering from diabetes mellitus Type 1(childhood onset diabetes mellitus).

Thirty patients with diabetes mellitus type one were enrolled in the study within the age range mentioned (mean age was 15.2 ± 3).

These patients had high-normal IGF-1 levels according to the normal standard range for their age group).

A second group of thirty patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 with normal IGF-1 levels (mean age was 14.6 ± 2.5) were also enrolled for this study.

A third group included thirty age and sex matched healthy controls.

HbA1-c was measured in all of the patients involved in the study as well as serum IGF-1.

Lipid profiles were assessed and they included total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins (LDL) High density lipoproteins (HDL) and serum triglycerides.

A significant elevation in HbA1c levels was observed in diabetes mellitus type 1 patients with normal levels of IGF-1 as compared to patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 with high normal IGF-1 levels or normal control subjects (mean HbA1c levels for group 2 as compared to groups 1 &3 were 9.20±0.64 vs.7.01 ±0.56 vs.

5.11 ±0.57 respectively, p<0.01).

A significant negative correlation was established between serum IGF levels and HbA1c (r=-0.46, p=0.02).These results required the reassessment of management protocols for patients belonging to Group 2.

Serum total cholesterol levels, LDL-C, and triglycerides were significantly higher in the second group as compared to the other groups while HDL levels in the same group were found to be significantly lower.

A significant negative correlation was established between serum LDL-C levels and IGF-1 levels measured in all participants (r=-0.41, p=0.02).

This study concluded that elevation in IGF-1 levels (which is a good indicator of Growth hormone levels) in the body ) has its positive effects on glycaemic control and lipid profiles in adolescent patients receiving treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus, therefore it is valuable as a prognostic tool for this disease.