GH/IGF system, cirrhosis and liver transplantation

The GH-related effects are primarily mediated by insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), a peptide hormone almost completely produced by the liver. Live r cirrhosis is usually accompanied by a fall in protein turnover. Furthermo re, an important consequence of chronic liver disease (CLD) is growth hormo ne/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis modification and growth failure . Nutritional status also suffers in this condition, and IGF-I has been pro posed as a marker of hepatocellular dysfunction, malnutrition and survival. CLD is characterised by alterations of various clinical biochemistry labor atory parameters. Aminotransferases, bilirubin, plasma proteins, together w ith prothrombin time and gamma globulins, are usually examined for laborato ry diagnostic and/or monitoring purposes. These traditional parameters are also used in the perioperative liver transplantation, but an early signal o f graft functioning has still not been established. The aim of the present work is a review of the possibility offered by the clinical biochemistry la boratory GH/IGF investigation in the outcome of liver transplantation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.