الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract The major form of circulating IGF is the GH-dependent 150 kDa complex. The liver appears to be the main source of the three components of the 150 kDa complex and, in particular, hepatocytes synthesize the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) peptide and the acid-labile subunit (ALS), whereas Kupffer and sinusoidal endothelial cells produce IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) Patients with liver cirrhosis exhibit reduced levels of circulating insulin like growth factor I and its main binding protein (ILGFBP3). This defect is thought to be caused by decreased hepatic synthesis The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of measurment of serum ILGFBP3 in patients with compensated and decompensated liver cirrhosis and the possible relationship of the change between the level of serum ILGFBP3 and the routine liver function tests. Fifty eight patients with liver cirrhosis of different etiologies were included in this study, they were selected from the Internal Medicine Department-Minoufiya University Hospital during the period from March to June 2004. Final diagnosis was established after complete physical, laboratory and ultrasonic examination. Patients with either haematemsis, coma, diabetes mellitus, renal failure or hypoglycemia were excluded. |