title: Increased plasma ghrelin levels in chronic renal failure are not associated with hemodynamic parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hardly anything is known about the effect of renal function on plasma ghrelin levels. Ghrelin is an orexigenic hormone with important hemodynamic effects. We examined differences in plasma ghrelin levels between chronic renal failure (CRF) patients and healthy subjects, and ghrelin's relationship with indices of left ventricular (LV) function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting total plasma ghrelin levels were measured in 122 CRF patients (57 on, 65 not on hemodialysis) and 57 control subjects. Indices of LV function were evaluated using echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total plasma ghrelin levels were higher in patients with CRF compared to controls, but were not different between patients on and those not on hemodialysis. In a multivariate linear regression model, presence of kidney dysfunction explained 41 % of the variability of ghrelin values. The etiology of renal failure (diabetic nephropathy or not) had no influence on ghrelin levels in the renal patients. Ghrelin levels were not associated with indices of LV systolic function or blood pressure in these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fasting plasma ghrelin concentrations are higher in CRF patients regardless of their need for hemodialysis compared to controls. The etiology of renal failure does not have any effect on plasma ghrelin levels. In addition, ghrelin levels are not associated with hemodynamic parameters in patients with CRF.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Propedeutic Medicine, Athens University Medical School, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tentolouris
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makrilakis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doulgerakis
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moyssakis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kokkinos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kyriaki
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Georgoulias
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stathakis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsilambros
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones