title: Ghrelin variants influence development of body mass index and plasma levels of total cholesterol in dialyzed patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ghrelin is an endogenous hormone expressed predominantly in the stomach. Ghrelin controls growth hormone secretion and also affects the body's energy balance. We analyzed the association of ghrelin variants with body mass index (BMI), albumin as a marker of malnutrition and plasma lipids as risk factors for atherosclerosis in hemodialyzed patients, in whom malnutrition and accelerated atherosclerosis are common complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ghrelin variants Arg51>Gln and Leu72> Met were analyzed by PCR-RFLP in 210 hemodialyzed patients, prospectively followed up for 15 months. Changes in body mass index, triglycerides, total cholesterol and albumin over time (after 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 months of dialysis) were analyzed in subgroups divided according to ghrelin genotypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carriers of at least one of the Gln51 and Met72 alleles lost body weight more quickly than Arg51Arg/Leu72Leu homozygotes (p<0.01). Carriers of the Gln51 allele were at higher risk of developing high cholesterol levels (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Common ghrelin variants may have an effect on changes in biochemical and anthropometric parameters in hemodialyzed patients over time and could be used in the future to plan individualized therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic. jahb@medicon.cz
authors.forename: Jaroslav A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hubacek
authors.forename: Silvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bloudícková
authors.forename: Romana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bohuslavová
authors.forename: Petr
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authors.lastname: Táborský
authors.forename: Vladimír
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authors.lastname: Polakovic
authors.forename: Magdaléna
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authors.lastname: Sazamová
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Svítilová
authors.forename: Jicí
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authors.lastname: Vlasák
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sojková
authors.forename: Miroslav
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authors.lastname: Ryba
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knetl
authors.forename: Martin
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authors.lastname: Ullrych
authors.forename: Radim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Drahozal
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pavuková
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pavlíková
authors.forename: Drahomíra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fischlová
authors.forename: Magdaléna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mokrejsová
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chmelícková
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pauchová
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vyskocil
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nýdlová
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kopenec
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fixa
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hajný
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bubenícek
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Syrovátka
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zahálková
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Surel
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hobzek
authors.forename: Ales
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hrubý
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suchanová
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanková
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brabcová
authors.forename: Ondrej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Viklický
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D001120:Arginine / Q000737:chemistry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003956:Dialysis; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000737:chemistry; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007930:Leucine / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000737:chemistry; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D005973:Glutamine; D001120:Arginine; D002784:Cholesterol; D008715:Methionine; D007930:Leucine