Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 80, 1148-1157, Copyright © 1995 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Concentrations, release, and disposal of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding proteins (IGFBP), IGF-I, and growth hormone in different vascular beds in patients with cirrhosis

S Moller, A Juul, U Becker, A Flyvbjerg, NE Skakkebaek and JH Henriksen
Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The liver is thought to be the major source of circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), whereas the primary production site of circulating IGFBP-3 remains unknown. As other tissues may contribute to the circulating pool of IGF-I and IGFBP, the aim of the present study was to assess the hepatic and renal arterio-venous difference and production rates of IGF-I, IGFBP-1, IGFBP- 3, and GH in cirrhotic patients (n = 22) and matched control subjects (n = 27). IGFBP-1 and -3, IGF-I, and GH levels were measured by RIA in hepatic, renal, and peripheral veins and in the femoral artery. Levels of IGFBP-1 to -4 were additionally determined by Western ligand blotting. Hepatic venous IGFBP-1 was significantly increased in the cirrhotic patients (mean +/- SEM, 33.6 +/- 9.1 vs. 10.4 +/- 1.9 micrograms/L; P < 0.001), and arterio-renal-venous extraction was significant in both patients (6 +/- 2%; P < 0.01) and controls (11 +/- 1%; P < 0.001). Conversely, IGFBP-3 was decreased in the cirrhotic patients (1265 +/- 149 vs. 2712 +/- 137 micrograms/L; P < 0.001). IGFBP- 3 correlated significantly with the wedged hepatic venous pressure (r = -0.49; P < 0.05), serum aspartate aminotransferase (r = -0.66; P < 0.01), serum bilirubin (r = -0.65; P < 0.01), serum albumin (r = 0.64; P < 0.01), and the Child score (r = -0.57; P < 0.01). IGF-I was significantly lower in the cirrhotics (57 +/- 10 vs. 143 +/- 11 micrograms/L; P < 0.001). No significant IGFBP-3 proteolysis was demonstrated in cirrhotics or controls. No significant differences were found in the values obtained simultaneously from hepatic, renal, and brachial veins or femoral artery, which suggests that no major net production or release of IGFBP-3 or IGF-I occurs in these tissues. No differences in IGFBP-2 or IGFBP-4 determined by Western ligan blot were found between patients and controls. The IGF-I concentrations correlated significantly with parameters of biochemical liver function. Basal GH concentrations were significantly higher in the cirrhotics (1.19 +/- 0.13 vs. 0.58 +/- 0.08 micrograms/L; P < 0.001). A significant hepatic disposal of GH was found in the patients (P < 0.05) and controls (P < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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