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Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Does Not Promote Linear Growth In Children With Cystic Fibrosis

Six months of treatment with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) failed to promote linear growth in prepubertal children with cystic fibrosis.

Although IGF-1 failed to promote this growth, it significantly increased the glucose/insulin ratio, which is an indirect measure of insulin sensitivity.

"Malnutrition is common in cystic fibrosis (CF) and adversely affects survival," according to investigators from the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States.

The investigators hypothesized that IGF-1 would increase linear growth and decrease insulin requirements in children with CF as a result of its known insulin-like effects on carbohydrate metabolism and its growth promoting characteristics.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study including seven prepubertal children between 9.6 and 13 years of age was conducted. The five boys and two girls received placebo or IGF-1 for six months, followed by a six-month washout period, then they received the alternative treatment for an additional six months.

With IGF-1 treatment, mean serum IGF-1 levels increased two- to three-fold in all the patients, and half-life for IGF-1 was 10.3 hours.

There was no significant difference in linear growth rate, weight gain, rate of accretion of lean body mass or mean forced expiratory volume with IGF-1 treatment compared with placebo.

A significant increase in the glucose/insulin ratio occurred with IGF-1 treatment, suggesting an increase in insulin sensitivity.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2001; 33(5): 576-581. "Effect of Insulinlike Growth Factor-1 Treatment in Children With Cystic Fibrosis"

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