gms | German Medical Science

Kongress Medizin und Gesellschaft 2007

17. bis 21.09.2007, Augsburg

Association between hepatic steatosis and serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels

Meeting Abstract

  • Henry Völzke - Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Greifswald
  • Matthias Nauck - Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Greifswald
  • Rainer Rettig - Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Greifswald
  • Marcus Dörr - Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Greifswald
  • Georg Brabant - University of Manchester, United Kingdom
  • Henri Wallaschofski - Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Greifswald

Kongress Medizin und Gesellschaft 2007. Augsburg, 17.-21.09.2007. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2007. Doc07gmds738

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/gmds2007/07gmds738.shtml

Published: September 6, 2007

© 2007 Völzke et al.
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Outline

Text

Objective: The association between hepatic steatosis and serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels have not well been documented but might at least partly explain the relation between hepatic steatosis and metabolic syndrome. The aims of the present study were 1) to investigate the association between hepatic steatosis and serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels using ultrasound and laboratory data to define hepatic steatosis and 2) to analyze the specific role of alcohol consumption in this context.

Methods: We used data from 3863 subjects (1971 women) who were recruited fro the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP). The study population was divided into six categories using ultrasound findings and laboratory data. The categories 1 to 3 included subjects without hypoechogenic liver pattern and 1) no increased serum transaminase enzyme levels, 2) one increased serum transaminase enzyme level, or 3) ≥ 2 increased serum enzyme transaminase levels. The categories 4 to 6 included subjects with hypoechogenic liver pattern and 4) no increased serum transaminase enzyme levels, 5) one increased serum transaminase enzyme level, or 6) ≥ 2 increased serum transaminase enzyme levels.

Results: Sonographic evidence for a hypoechogenic liver pattern was associated with low serum IGF-1 levels and a serum low IGF-1/ IGFBP-3 ratio. This relation was even observed in subjects who had no increased serum transaminase enzyme levels. The lowest serum IGF-1 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 values were present in subjects who had a hypoechogenic liver pattern and ≥ 2 among three serum transaminase enzyme levels increased. Serum IGFBP-3 levels were predominantly increased in subjects with increased serum transaminase enzyme levels. All of these associations were independent of alcohol consumption.

Conclusions: There is an association between hepatic steatosis and low serum IGF-1 levels. The use of liver ultrasound enhances the validity to detect hepatic steatosis as a player in the metabolic syndrome.