Relationship between Insulin-Like Growth Factor Type 1 and Intrauterine Growth

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a regulator of intrauterine growth, and circulating concentrations are reduced in intrauterine growth-restricted fetuses. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between IGF-1 levels in newborns and intrauterine growth, expressed as birth weight (BW). The research was designed as a cross-sectional study. The study included 71 premature newborns, gestational age (GA) [less than or equal to]33 weeks. Quantitative determination of IGF-1 was performed in the 33rd post-menstrual week (pmw) to make the measurements more comparable. We used an enzyme-bound immunosorbent test for quantitative determination of IGF-1. Our results showed the mean IGF-1 level in premature newborns in 33rd pmw to be 23.1[+ or -]4.56 (range 15.44-39.75) [micro]g/L. There was no difference in IGF-1 values between male (23.1[+ or -]4.98 [micro]g/L) and female (23.1[+ or -]4.87 [micro]g/L) newborns. There was no significant difference in the average IGF-1 levels between male and female newborns with BW 50th percentile for GA either (p>0.50). Only BW