Children's Medical Center Corporation

Lois E H Smith

Ann Hellström

In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for determining the risk of developing a complication of preterm birth in a patient born before 40 weeks of gestation or weighing 10% less than the average for the patient's gestational age. The method involves measuring serum IGF-I and/or IGF-I binding protein levels after birth of the patient to obtain an IGF-I or IGF-I binding protein level; and correlating said IGF-I or IGF-I binding protein level with an in utero baseline level of IGF-I or IGF-I binding protein based on gestational age matched mean levels in utero, wherein an IGF-I or IGF-I binding protein level below the mean gestational age in utero level indicates the patient is at an increased risk of developing a complication of preterm birth. The complications of preterm birth include retinopathy of prematurity, developmental delay, mental retardation, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and intraventricular hemorrhage. Methods for treating/preventing and reducing the risk of complications of preterm birth using IGF-I and ins analogs are also provided.

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West Newton, MA, United States of America

Lois E H Smith