IGF1 and heart failure: IGF-1 promotes cardiac myocyte growth in vitro, and enhances cardiac myocyte differentiation and survival following ischemic injury.[10] Additionally, IGF-1 augments heart performance in laboratory models of heart failure in vivo.[11] The potential therapeutic value of IGF-1 is underscored by the fact that its administration improves cardiac function in patients with heart failure in humans.[12] Collectively, these observations demonstrate that IGF-1exerts a protective effect on the human myocardium.