Insulin Growth Factor-1 as a Predictor for the Progression of Hepatic Disease in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Abstract

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to assess IGF-1 in chronic liver diseases associated with HBV infection and describe the impact of liver status on IGF-1 variables. Methods: This cohort study included 348 subjects and conducted between December 2018 and December 2019 at El-Sahel Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Subjects were divided into 4 groups: group I included HBV positive hepatocellular carcinoma patients “HCC” (n= 87), group II included HBV positive patients with liver cirrhosis “LC” (n = 87), group III included chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with neither HCC nor cirrhosis “CHB” (n = 87) and group IV of healthy volunteers as controls (n = 87). Serum IGF-1 was measured quantitatively using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay. Results: Serum levels of IGF-1 were measured in each of the 4 groups. The comparison showed marked differences in IGF1-related measures. It was found to be significantly reduced in HCC patients (32.08 ± 9.2 ng/ml), LC patients (50.6±14.1ng/ml) and CHB patients (61.4±14.3 ng/ml) in comparison to healthy subjects (140.4±49.9 ng/ml). The reduction of IGF-1 levels was also statistically significant between both HCC and LC patients and CHB patients also between HCC and LC patients. Conclusion: Serum IGF-1 levels are significantly reduced with the progression of hepatic disease in HBV patients and it may be a promising serological marker alone or in association with others for prediction of development of liver cirrhosis and HCC in chronic HBV patients.

Growth Hormone Signaling in Liver Diseases: Therapeutic Potentials and Controversies

“…35 Low serum levels of IGF1 were identified in patients with HBV, cirrhosis, or HCC in another cohort of 348 subjects. 36 A previous study demonstrated that serum IGF1 levels were significantly lower in patients with chronic HCV infection, chronic HCV infection and diabetes, or no HCV infection and diabetes compared to healthy controls (15 subjects for each group). 37 Serum IGF1 negatively correlated with ALT and AST levels, showing the association between GH/IGF1 signaling and HBV/HCV infection.…”

“…Serum GH levels showed the potential as a biomarker to predict poor prognosis and 30-day survival in these HBV patients [35]. Low serum levels of IGF1 were identified in patients with HBV, cirrhosis, or HCC in another cohort of 348 subjects [36]. A previous study demonstrated that serum IGF1…”