title: Role of appetite-regulating peptides in alcohol craving: an analysis in respect to subtypes and different consumption patterns in alcoholism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A role of appetite-regulating peptides like leptin and ghrelin in the neurobiology of alcohol craving has been proposed by several studies. Aim of this analysis was to search for differences regarding an association between these peptides and alcohol craving with respect to different subtypes and beverage consumption patterns in patients with alcohol dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed a sample of 188 patients at admission for alcohol detoxification regarding leptin and ghrelin (n=117) serum levels. Craving was measured using the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS). Patients were classified according to Lesch's typology of alcohol dependence and according to their preferred type of alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, spirits).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using general linear models to analyze a possible interaction between subtypes and leptin/ghrelin levels with respect to craving, we found a significant positive association for leptin in patients of Lesch's types 1 and 2, and in patients consuming beer or wine. Ghrelin levels showed a significant trend regarding an association with craving in patients of Lesch's type 1. In the other subgroups we found no significant results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that appetite-regulating peptides may be of special importance regarding alcohol craving in subtypes of patients. This may explicate at least in part previous contradictory findings.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany. thomas.hillemacher@uk-erlangen.de
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Hillemacher
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Kraus
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Rauh
authors: Julian
authors: J
authors: Weiss
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Schanze
authors: Helge
authors: H
authors: Frieling
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Wilhelm
authors: Annemarie
authors: A
authors: Heberlein
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Gröschl
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Sperling
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Kornhuber
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Bleich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin; D036361:Peptide Hormones