Aims: To study the relationships between serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-2 and interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: Thirty-seven patients (18 males, 19 females, aged 8.8–26.1 years) with IBD (Crohn’s disease, CD, n = 17, and ulcerative colitis, UC, n = 20) were studied. Patients were in relapse or remission according to established criteria. Serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-2, IL-1β and IL-6 levels were determined in patients and 15 healthy controls (aged 8.2–19.0 years). Results: IGF-1 levels were lower in patients with CD in relapse compared with controls (p < 0.05). IGFBP-2 levels were higher in CD in relapse compared with other groups (all p < 0.05). In CD and UC patients (n = 37), IGF-1 levels were inversely correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). IGFBP-2 levels correlated positively with ESR and IL-1β. IL-6 levels correlated positively with ESR and CRP. IL-1β levels were elevated in CD in relapse compared to controls (p < 0.05) and were higher in UC in relapse than in other groups (all p < 0.05). In combined CD/UC patients in relapse (n = 20), IL-1β levels were higher (p < 0.05) in patients with recto-sigmoiditis (n = 5) than in other patients. Conclusions: IGF-1, IGFBP-2 levels were related to IL levels, disease activity and anatomical distribution, consistent with active inflammation modifying the IGF-IGFBP system, possibly relevant to disturbance of growth.

Keywords:
Insulin-like growth factor-I, Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2, Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-6, Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis
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2004
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