title: The levels of Ghrelin, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 in children with cyanotic and acyanotic congenital heart disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ghrelin has effects on nutrient intake and growth. The cause of growth retardation in congenital heart disease is multifactorial. The aim of the present study is to investigate the ghrelin in congenital heart disease and the association of ghrelin with TNF-alpha and IL-6. Materials and methods. We measured serum ghrelin, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 levels using specific immunoassay in 68 patients (47 acyanotic, 21 cyanotic with congenital heart disease) and in 25 control subjects. Results. In comparison to controls, serum ghrelin, TNF-alpha levels were significantly higher in acyanotic patients and cyanotic patients with congenital heart disease (P<.0001). In acyanotic and cyanotic patients with congenital heart disease, there was a positive correlation between ghrelin and TNF-alpha (r=.485, P<.05 and r=.573, P<.01, resp.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum ghrelin levels is elevated in acyanotic and cyanotic patients with congenital heart disease. Increased ghrelin levels represents malnutrition and growth retardation in these patients. The relation of ghrelin with cytokines may be explained by the possible effect of chronic congestive heart failure and chronic shunt hypoxemia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Firat University, Elaziğ 23119, Turkey. erdalyilmaz@firat.edu.tr
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ustundag
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Saadet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akarsu
authors.forename: A Nese citak
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dogan
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006333:Heart Failure; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha