Growth hormone/IGF-1 axis longitudinal evaluation in clinically isolated syndrome patients on interferon-1b therapy: stimulation tests and correlations with clinical and radiological conversion to multiple sclerosis

Background and purposeGrowth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) axis abnormalities in multiple sclerosis (MS) suggest their role in its pathogenesis. Interferon (IFN-) efficacy could be mediated also by an increase of IGF-1 levels. A 2-year longitudinal study was performed to estimate the prevalence of GH and/or IGF-1 deficiency in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients and their correlation with conversion to MS in IFN treated patients.