Assessment of insulin like growth factor 1 and bone density in normal and β-thalassemia major children

[摘要] Background: Bone disease and growth failure is a major problem in patients of β-thalassemia major. IGF-1 deficiency is the major cause of growth failure and maturation delay. Our aim was to compare IGF-1 and bone density between β-thalassemia major and healthy children of 5–11 years of age and to investigate the relationship of IGF-1 with bone density in these children. Methods: It was a cross-sectional comparative research which used convenience sampling. One-hundred-thirty subjects were enrolled for the study, 65 healthy and 65 β-thalassemia major patients. Patient samples were taken from Fatimid and Sundus foundation, Lahore. Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was measured by ELISA. Bone density was checked by Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) bone profiler measurements; amplitude dependent speed of sound (Ad-SoS), bone transmission time BTT and Bone profile Z-Score was recorded. Results: Serum IGF-1 and bone density were considerably decreased in β-thalassemia major children in our study population as compared to healthy children. Important negative connection between IGF-1 with bone density was also found in our thalassemia children. Conclusion: Majority of the thalassemia major children had low IGF-1 which leads to low bone density and increase fracture risk in adulthood. Improvement of IGF-1 levels early in the life through proper nutrition can help prevent bone problems in later life. Easy assessment of bone density by QUS can help prevent the fracture risk and improve the value of life of thalassemia children.

[学科分类] 解剖和生理学

[关键词] Physiology;Insulin like Growth Factor;IGF;Bone Density