Determining skeletal maturation using insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) test

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Orthodontics
• Radiology

Background:

• Accurate skeletal maturity assessment is crucial for orthodontic treatment planning.
• Current methods like cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) and middle phalanx of the third finger (MP3) staging have limitations.
• Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) is a key regulator of growth and development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability of serum IGF-1 levels as an indicator of skeletal maturity.
• To compare serum IGF-1 levels with established skeletal maturity indicators (CVM and MP3 stages).
• To explore the potential of IGF-1 testing as a preliminary screening tool in orthodontics.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 30 female subjects aged 8-23 years was studied.
• Serum IGF-1 levels were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA).
• Skeletal maturity was assessed using CVM (Baccetti et al.) and MP3 staging (Rajagopal & Kansal).

Main Results:

• Serum IGF-1 levels demonstrated a strong correlation with CVM and MP3 skeletal maturity stages in females.
• IGF-1 levels showed a sharp increase during early puberty, followed by a decline in late puberty.
• The study suggests IGF-1 testing can serve as a preliminary screening tool for growth modification therapy.

Conclusions:

• Serum IGF-1 estimation is a valuable and reliable tool for assessing skeletal maturation.
• IGF-1 assessment can assist orthodontists in identifying optimal timing for myofunctional appliance therapy.
• This biomarker offers a potential adjunct to traditional skeletal age assessment methods.