title: Serum ghrelin levels in inflammatory bowel disease with relation to disease activity and nutritional status.
abstract: Ghrelin possesses various biological activities -- it stimulates growth hormone (GH) release, plays a major role in energy metabolism, and is one of the hormones that affects body composition. It also plays a role in modulating immune response and inflammatory processes. In this study we aimed to determine whether serum ghrelin levels had correlation with markers associated with disease activation. We also investigated any probable relationship between serum ghrelin level and nutritional status. Serum levels of ghrelin and its relationship with disease activity and nutritional status were evaluated in 34 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 25 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), and 30 healthy controls. Serum ghrelin levels, serum IGF-1 and GH levels, and markers of disease activity (sedimentation, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen) were measured in all subjects. Body composition and nutritional status was assessed by both direct (by anthropometry) and indirect (by bioimpedance) methods. Serum ghrelin levels were significantly higher in patients with active UC and CD than in those in remission (108 +/- 11 pg/ml vs. 71 +/- 13 pg/ml for UC patients, P < 0.001; 110 +/- 10 pg/ml vs. 75 +/- 15 pg/ml for CD patients, P < 0.001). Circulating ghrelin levels in UC and CD patients were positively correlated with sedimentation, fibrinogen and CRP and was negatively correlated with IGF-1, BMI, TSFT, MAC, fat mass (%), and fat free mass (%). This study demonstrates that patients with active IBD have higher serum ghrelin levels than patients in remission and high levels of circulating ghrelin correlate with the severity of disease and the activity markers. Ghrelin levels in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients show an appositive correlation with IGF-1 and bioelectrical impedance analysis, body composition, and anthropometric assessments. Finally, we arrived at the conclusion that ghrelin level may be important in determination of the activity in IBD patients and evaluation of nutritional status.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Yuksel
authors: Y
authors: Ates
authors: Bulent
authors: B
authors: Degertekin
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Erdil
authors: Halil
authors: H
authors: Yaman
authors: Kemal
authors: K
authors: Dagalp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001823:Body Composition; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D054439:Ghrelin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein