Aim Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been identified as a valuable indicator for impaired glucose intolerance, and its relationship with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis has been also suggested.
A few studies assessed relationship between IGF-1 level and severity of atherosclerosis. In the present study, the relationship between IGF-1 and coronary artery disease (CAD) was examined with particular attention to the association between this parameter and Gensini score as a good angiographic marker for determining extension and severity of CAD.
Methods One hundred and seven patients with suspected CAD consecutively referred for selective coronary angiography at the Shafa hospital in Kerman between April and September 2010 were prospectively enrolled. Total IGF-1 was measured using Radioimmunoassay methods (Diagnostics Systems Laboratory, Iran). Selective coronary angiography was performed for all study patients and the Gensini score is computed by assigning a severity score to each coronary stenosis according to the degree of luminal narrowing and its importance based on location.