This is an Accepted Article that has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication in the Clinical Endocrinology, but has yet to undergo copy-editing and proof correction. Please cite this article as an “Accepted Article”; doi: 10.1111/j.1365- 2265.2009.03707.x Original Article; Received 27-Mar-09; Returned for Revision 28-Apr-09; Finally Revised 29-Jun-09; Accepted 09-Sep-09 Ascites from patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis contains higher IGF-I bioactivity than serum Nilani Jeyaratnaganthan 1 , Henning Grønbæk 2 , Peter Holland-Fischer 2 , Ulrick Espelund 1 , Jian-Wen Chen 1* , Allan Flyvbjerg 1 , Hendrik Vilstrup 2 , Jan Frystyk 1 1 The Medical Research Laboratories, Clinical Institute, and Medical Department M (Diabetes & Endocrinology), Aarhus University Hospital, DK- 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark 2 Medical Department V (Hepatology & Gastroenterology), Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark * Dr. Chen participated in the study while being employed at Medical Research Laboratories at Aarhus University Hospital. Dr. Chen is currently holding a position as Medical Director at Clinical Development Centre – Medical & Science, Novo Nordisk Region International Operations, Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. 100004 Beijing, China Short title: Increased IGF-I bioactivity in ascites Key words: Ascites, liver cirrhosis, IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBPs Corresponding author: Dr. Jan Frystyk The Medical Research Laboratories, Clinical Institute, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44 DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark Telephone: +45 8949 2166; Fax: +45 8949 2150; E-mail: jan@frystyk.dk