title: Plasma total and acylated Ghrelin concentrations in patients with clinical and subclinical thyroid dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Results of circulating Ghrelin levels in hyper- or hypothyroidism are conflicting and only overt thyroid dysfunction has been evaluated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate in a large number of patients with thyroid disfunction whether: a) hyper- and hypothyroidism (clinical or subclinical) are associated with variations in both acylated (AG) and total Ghrelin (TG) concentrations, and b) correction of thyroid dysfunction is followed by variations in Ghrelin concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six hyperthyroids, 52 hypothyroids, 144 euthyroids with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, and 109 euthyroid healthy controls were evaluated cross-sectionally and longitudinally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TG and AG were significantly lower in hyperthyroids than in controls or hypothyroids; the latter 2 groups did not differ. TG was significantly lower in overt than in subclinical hyperthyroids, with a trend to a reduction also in AG levels. No differences were found between subclinical hyperthyroids and controls. After thionamide treatment, TG and AG levels in hyperthyroids did not differ from controls. L-thyroxine management of hypothyroidism was not associated with significant Ghrelin variations. Plasma Ghrelin was independent of either thyroid or gastric autoimmunity. Plasma TG was negatively correlated with serum free thyroid hormone levels in hyperthyroids but not in hypothyroids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma Ghrelin concentrations are reduced in overt but not in subclinical hyperthyroidism and normalize after restoration of euthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is not accompanied by significant changes in circulating Ghrelin.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tanda
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Genovesi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ultimieri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gandolfo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dalle Mule
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bogazzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Broglio
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghigo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bartalena