Correlation of serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor one with acne severity

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Acne is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition; Acne could present as inflammatory or non-inflammatory lesion. Acne can be varied in severity from patient to another, generally, it can present in mild, moderate or severe degree. Excessive production of sebum by sebaceous glands in the skin contributes in acne formation. One of the factors associated with the production of sebum is Insulin-Like Growth Factor in serum. Current study tries to find any association between acne severity and serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor. Method: On a sample of 40 female patients with acne, aged 14-26 years at the outpatient clinic as a cross sectional study. Serum IGF-1 level was compared to their acne severity across three groups, mild, moderate and severe acne. Global acne grading system was used to classify the acne severity. Results: Median levels of IGF-1 were 208.09 ng/ml. Mean serum level of IGF-1 is 254.53ng/ml, 200.03ng/ml and 172.39ng/ml in severe, moderate and mild acne respectively. Acne severity strongly associated with serum level of IGF-1 which is statistically significant. No significantly association between serum level of Insulin-Like Growth Factor and the age of patients was found. Likewise, the severity degree of acne has no association with body mass index Conclusion: There is a direct relationship between mean level of IGF-1 in patients with AV with degree of their acne severity