Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Patients With Stroke Increases the Bioavailability of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background and Purpose—Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 has potent neuroprotective properties. We investigated the effects of intravenous administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) on serum levels of IGF-1 and IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-3 in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods—Serum levels of total IGF-1, free IGF-1, and IGFBP-3 were measured by radioimmunoassay in 10 patients with ischemic stroke treated with intravenous tPA (0.9 mg/kg body weight) and 10 untreated controls.Results—During tPA treatment, total IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 serum levels did not change, but there was an &70% increase in free IGF-1 serum levels from 0.98±0.25 at baseline to 1.69±0.18 nmol/L at the end of the 1-hour infusion (P=0.01).Conclusions—Intravenous therapy with tPA enhances the bioavailability of IGF-1.