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Effect of Low‐Dose Baclofen Administration on Plasma Insulin‐like Growth Factor‐I in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury
Author(s) -
Bauman William A.,
Kirshblum Steven C.,
Morrison Nancy G.,
Cirnigliaro Christopher M.,
Zhang RunLin,
Spungen Ann M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.92
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1552-4604
pISSN - 0091-2700
DOI - 10.1177/0091270006286641
Subject(s) - baclofen , medicine , spinal cord injury , insulin like growth factor , anesthesia , spinal cord , endocrinology , insulin , growth factor , receptor , agonist , psychiatry
Patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), a condition associated with reduced physical function, have been reported to have lower plasma insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) levels than able‐bodied persons. We evaluated the potential for daily low‐dose baclofen administered over several weeks to increase plasma IGF‐I levels. Ten healthy male outpatients with chronic SCI were studied prospectively. Patients received escalating doses of baclofen for 4 weeks at each dose level (5, 10, and 20 mg/d). At each dose of baclofen, an increase in the plasma IGF‐I was noted; significant increases in plasma IGF‐I occurred at 2 weeks after administration of drug at doses of 10 and 20 mg/d, with a subsequent rise to peak levels on baclofen 20 mg/d [baseline, 205 ± 74; peak, 218 ± 76 (not significant), 239 ± 83 (P < .05), 263 ± 87 μg/L (P < .05), at baclofen 5, 10, and 20 mg/d, respectively]. In conclusion, low‐dose baclofen administration for 4 weeks stimulated the growth hormone‐IGF‐I axis in persons with SCI, with the potential for beneficial effects on body composition.