Liver biopsy was until recently the only way of evaluating liver fibrosis. Noninvasive tests for hepatic fibrosis, without potential risks, are desired by clinicians as well as patients. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) synthesis is disturbed in liver fibrosis and reflects the severity of the clinical stage. We assessed serum IGF-I levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) to correlate with liver fibrosis and antiviral therapy. Forty patients with CHC and persistently abnormal alanine aminotransferase values were enrolled and treated with peginterferon α-2a 180 μg per week plus ribavirin for 24 (n=20) or 48 (n=20) weeks. All patients underwent liver biopsy before treatment (METAVIR fibrosis stage F0, n=13; F1-F2, n=14; F3, n=7; F4, n=6). Serum IGF-I was measured at baseline, at the end of treatment period, and 24 weeks after finishing treatment. Mean IGF-I values were significantly lower in patients with advanced fibrosis (F4, 65.9±17.9 ng/mL) than in the others (F0, 145.2±47.1; F1-F2, 150.3±89.6; and F3, 121.4±35.2 ng/mL; P < .05). Serum IGF-I levels increased during combined therapy, being this increment markedly higher in patients with sustained virologic response. In conclusion, IGF-I synthesis is disturbed in CHC and reflects the severity of the liver fibrosis. Combined therapy improves serum IGF-I levels. IGF-I could represent a good, noninvasive marker of liver fibrosis. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.
CITATION STYLE
Lorenzo-Zúñiga, V., Bartolí, R., Masnou, H., Montoliu, S., Morillas, R. M. A., & Planas, R. (2007). Serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) as a marker of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 52(11), 3245–3250. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9437-1
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