Insulin like growth factor-1 serum level in knee osteoarthritis patients: correlation with age and severity of the disease

ABSTRACT

Somatedin which got renamed insulin like growth factor-1 [IGF-1] is primarily involved in the normal growth and development of humans and in cartilage metabolism. IGF-1 tends to decrease with advancing age. As long as OA is most prevalent in the elderly, thus a rationale for studying the relationship between IGF-1 and OA could arise. This was the aim of our study, in which, the knee joint was chosen. Seventy-eight osteoarthritis Knee patients were chosen for this study, besides forty control subjects. The patients were symptomatic and had different radiological OA changes. They were 43 males and 35 females; the mean age was [52. +/- 7.6]. All the subjects were thoroughly examined. Radiographs of the knees including A-P, lateral and sky- line views were taken and grading according to Kellgren and Lawrence grading system of OA patients was performed. IGF-1 serum level was estimated with radioimmunoassay. There was no significant difference between males and females serum IGF-1 levels. The mean serum level of IGF-1 was lower in elderly patients and controls, with no significant difference. Also no significant difference was detected between OA mean serum level of IGF-1 and controls. Although there was lowering of the mean serum IGF-1 level in advanced age and in severe radiological OA, no significant difference was detected. More studies are needed to evaluate the role of IGF-1 in the pathogenesis and treatment of osteoarthritis