Insulin-like growth factor I: a good indicator of functional hepatocellular capacity in alcoholic liver cirrhosis

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Abstract
To assess the value of serum insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) determination in liver disease, 21 patients hospitalized for active alcoholic cirrhosis (19 males, 2 females), 56 ± 2 y (mean ± SE) were studied at admission. Individual scores of hepatic alterations (Child score) ranged from 6 to 12 (mean: 9 ± 1). Basal IGF-I levels were dramatically decreased, averaging 0.11 ± 0.02 U/ml vs 0.70 ± 0.08 U/ml in 15 control subjects. In cirrhotic patients, IGF-I values were inversely correlated with the modified Child index (r= −0.57, p < 0.01). A highly significant positive correlation (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) was evidenced between IGF-I levels and aminopyrine breath test values (which provide quantitative estimates of the hepatic functional capacity). In contrast, no significant relationship was found between IGF-I levels and various nutritional parameters (albumin, prealbumin, retinol binding protein) after partial correlation analysis. The present data suggest that, in alcoholic cirrhosis, the decrease of circulating IGF-I values is mainly related to alterations of liver function, and that IGF-I can be used as a good indicator of functional hepatocellular capacity.