Decreased insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels in adults have been associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease and heart failure.
We conclude that gene transfer of IGF-I and IGF-II is a plausible strategy for the local delivery of IGFs to treat ischemic heart disease and heart failure by stimulating angiogenesis and protecting cardiomyocytes from cell death.
We conclude that low baseline levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-1 increase the risk of fatal IHD among elderly men and women independent of prevalent IHD and CVD risk factors.