Relationship between insulin-like growth factor 1, leptin and ghrelin levels and catch-up growth in small for gestational age infants of 27-31 weeks during neonatal intensive care unit admission.

Abstract

AIM:

Poor post-natal growth is related to later morbidity and poor cognitive development in preterm infants. We investigated the relationship between plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), leptin, active ghrelin levels and post-natal growth in preterm infants small for gestational age (SGA).

METHODS:

Plasma IGF-1, leptin and active ghrelin levels were measured at birth and at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after birth in 42 very low birthweight (VLBW) infants (born between 27 and 31 weeks of gestation), including 14 SGA infants with extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR), 6 SGA infants without EUGR and 22 appropriate-for-gestational-age infants.

RESULTS:

At birth, IGF-1 levels in SGA infants without EUGR did not differ significantly from those in SGA infants with EUGR. However, IGF-1 levels in SGA infants without EUGR were as high as those observed in appropriate-for-gestational-age infants and were significantly different from those in SGA infants with EUGR at 4 and 8 weeks of age. Leptin and ghrelin levels did not differ significantly among the three groups at any time point.

CONCLUSION:

IGF-1 is related to catch-up growth in SGA VLBW infants during neonatal intensive care unit admission; however, this does not appear to be the case for leptin and ghrelin. IGF-1 level monitoring may be useful for predicting EUGR in preterm VLBW infants.

• Authors: Natsuki Ohkawa, Hiromichi Shoji, Naho Ikeda, Hiroki Suganuma, Toshiaki Shimizu
• Journal: Journal of paediatrics and child health (J Paediatr Child Health) Vol. 53 Issue 1 Pg. 62-67 (Jan 2017) ISSN: 1440-1754 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 27565941 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2016 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians).

Chemical References

• Ghrelin
• Leptin
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I

Topics

• Child Development (drug effects)
• Female
• Gestational Age
• Ghrelin (blood)
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Small for Gestational Age (growth & development)
• Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (administration & dosage)
• Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
• Leptin (blood)
• Male
• Pilot Projects
• Tokyo