Jagdesh, Inayat-ur rahman, Raj Kumar Chohan, Khemomal A Karira.
Comparative analysis of serum insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and liver function tests (lfts) in apparently healthy subjects and cirrhotic patients.
Isra Med J Jan ;7(4):195-9.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the levels of IGF-1 either its synthesis in liver cirrhosis is altered or not and weather its levels reflect the severity of the disease. Also to observe that is IGF-1, a good marker of hepatic function and the etiology of cirrhosis does influence on IGF-1 levels. STUDY DESIGN: Case control study PLACE AND DURATION: This study was carried out from 4 August 2008 to 5 December 2009 at the Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, with the collaboration of Medical unit I, II and III, Department of Medicine, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi. METHODOLOGY: In this study a total of 90 subjects were included randomly with their consent. 60 subjects suffering from liver cirrhosis (Hepatitis B and C) were taken from Medical units of JPMC, Karachi and 30 age matched normal healthy control subjects were selected from general population for comparison. subjects who were suffering from Gastrointestinal system bleeding, Hepatic encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma or any other malignancy, Any kind of infectious disease, Diabetes mellitus, Chronic renal failure, Hypertension were excluded from the study. Groups were compared using student's t-test and p < 0.01 was considered as statically significant. RESULTS: The result showed that mean values of serum IGF-1 in liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis-B and C virus were found very significantly lower (p< 0.01) than normal healthy individuals. The mean values of AST, ALT and Alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin and prothrombin time showed significant difference (p< 0.01) among hepatitis-B and C liver cirrhotics when compared with normal control subjects. Whereas no influence of etiology of liver cirrhosis was observed on IGF-1 level. CONCLUSION: In this study we found significant decrease in IGF-1 whereas no influence of etiology of liver cirrhosis on IGF-1 levels were observed.

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