cant independent prognostic value. Because IGF-I and Insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) is a single-polypep-IGFBP-3 were closely correlated, they contained almost tide chain with important anabolic and endocrine activithe same prognostic information. Inclusion of IGF-I gave ties. The liver is the major source of IGF-I and its binding these results: IGF-I (P õ .03), alcohol intake (P õ .02), protein, IGFBP-3. Circulating concentrations of IGF-I coagulation factors 2, 7, and 10 (P õ .01), creatinine (P and IGFBP-3 are decreased in patients with chronic õ .001), and IgM (P õ .01) contained independent progliver disease and correlate with the severity. The aim of nostic information. Inclusion of IGFBP-3 gave these rethis study was to assess the additional prognostic value sults: IGFBP-3 (P õ .02), alcohol intake (P õ .05), coagulaof IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in patients entered in a large tion factors 2, 7, 10 (P õ .01), creatinine (P õ .001), and multicenter study (EMALD). Three hundred thirtyIgM (P õ .02) were independent predictors of survival. seven patients with alcohol-induced liver disease wereIn conclusion, IGF-I or IGFBP-3 provide important addistudied in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of mational information on survival in patients with alcohollotilate with a mean follow-up period of 569 days (range, induced liver disease. (HEPATOLOGY 1996;23:1073-1078.)
7-1,544). A multivariate Cox regression analysis of pertinent clinical and biochemical variables showed a significant independent prognostic value of years of alcoholInsulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) is a single-chained intake, coagulation factors 2, 7, and 10, alkaline phospha-polypeptide with important anabolic actions on protein, tases, serum creatinine, and immunoglobulin (Ig) M. carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism.1-3 IGF-I is bound When IGF-I or IGFBP-3 were added into this model, a in the circulation to a complex system of at least six whereas the production site of IGFBP-3 is uncertain. [4][5][6] and the