Dual hormonal replacement therapy with insulin and recombinant human insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: Effects on the growth hormone IGF IGF-binding protein system JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM Thrailkill, K., Quattrin, T., Baker, L., Litton, J., Dwigun, K., Rearson, M., POPPENHEIMER, M., KOTLOVKER, D., Giltinan, D., Gesundheit, N., Martha, P. 1997; 82 (4): 1181-1187

Abstract

Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) exhibit abnormalities in the GH/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis, including GH hypersecretion, low serum IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels, and elevated IGFBP-1 levels. We recently demonstrated that in IDDM, dual hormonal replacement therapy with insulin plus recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) improves glycemic control better than insulin alone. To determine whether the addition of rhIGF-I therapy to insulin therapy also corrects GH/IGF/ IGFBP abnormalities, we examined the effects of chronic combined rhIGF-I/insulin therapy on key components of the somatotropin axis. Forty-three pediatric IDDM patients were randomly assigned to groups receiving daily, fasting subcutaneous injections of placebo or rhIGF-I (80 micrograms.kg.day) for 28 days, while continuing to receive splitmix insulin therapy and intensive outpatient management. rhIGF-I therapy corrected IGF-I deficiency, suppressed IGFBP-1 levels (P < 0.01), and induced a trend toward lower circulating GH levels throughout the study. rhIGF-I therapy also induced an approximate 50% decrease in IGF-II levels (P < 0.001) and an approximate 70% increase in IGFBP-2 levels (P < 0.05). Serum IGFBP-3 levels, normal before treatment, remained normal during rhIGF-I administration. All effects were apparent during the first week of rhIGF-I therapy and persisted throughout treatment. Because improvements in the GH/ IGF axis abnormalities and in glycemic control were greater in subjects receiving combined rhIGF-I and insulin, these data strongly support the concept that dual hormonal replacement in IDDM may offer distinct therapeutic advantages over insulin monotherapy.

View details for Web of Science ID A1997WT03400035

View details for PubMedID 9100593