INSULIN-LIKE-GROWTH-FACTOR (IGF)-I AND IGF-BINDING PROTEIN-3 IN RELATION TO HEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION IN HEALTHY TERM INFANTS

In order to evaluate the role of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in the main tenance of blood Hb concentration in infants, we studied the serum con centrations of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in relation to blood hemoglobin value s in 25 healthy term infants at birth and two months of age, The mean concentration of IGF-I was 18.6+/-7.1 ng/ml and IGFBP-3 was 1240+/-498 ng/ml at birth, Positive correlation was observed between the blood H b concentrations and both IGF-I (r=0.56, p=0.004) and IGFBP-3 levels ( r=0.38, p=0.04) at the first examination, Our results show that blood Hb is positively correlated to serum IGF-I levels indicating indirectl y the involvement of mediators of growth hormone in the regulation of physiologic Hb concentrations at birth, As no relationship was found b etween IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and Hb levels at the second examination, the sam e association could not be demonstrated at two months of age.