The potential role of insulin-like growth factor 1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 and bone mineral density in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus in Cairo, Egypt

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels have been found to correlate with measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) in liver diseases. This study investigated the relationship between IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) and BMD in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus. This study was conducted for 30 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (16 patients without and 14 patients with cirrhosis) and 11 healthy controls. Serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 and BMD of the proximal femur and lumbar spine were measured in all subjects. Osteoporosis of the proximal femur and lumbar spine was found in 42.9% and 21.4%, respectively, of the patients with cirrhosis. Patients with liver cirrhosis and osteoporosis of the proximal femur and lumbar spine had lower IGF-1 (P < 0.001, P = 0.04, P = 0.04 respectively). BMD of the proximal femur was lower in cirrhotic patients compared with controls (P < 0.01). Patients with liver cirrhosis had lower IGFBP-3 than patients without cirrhosis and controls (P < 0.001). Patients with osteoporosis of the proximal femur had lower IGFBP-3 than those without osteoporosis (P < 0.01). IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were lower in patients with liver cirrhosis. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 may play a role in hepatic osteoporosis.