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 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.
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.