title: The relationship of active ghrelin levels and intrauterine growth in preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the association of active ghrelin levels with birth weight, sex, and gestational age (GA) in small for GA (SGA) and appropriate for GA (AGA) preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Active ghrelin levels were measured by ELISA method during the first five postnatal days in 38 preterm SGA infants and 32 preterm AGA controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Active ghrelin levels were significantly higher in preterm SGA infants than in preterm AGA controls (P < 0.01). Active ghrelin levels in preterms with birth weight <1500 g were statistically higher than those over 1500 g. Active ghrelin levels in preterms ≤ 34 gestational weeks were similar to those over 34 weeks. A negative correlation was detected between active ghrelin levels and birth weight (r = -0.561, P < 0.0001) as well as GA (r = -0.449, P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found significantly higher active ghrelin levels in SGA preterms than those in AGA preterms and demonstrated a negative correlation between active ghrelin levels and birth weight in preterm infants. This was the first study showing a negative correlation between active ghrelin levels and birth weight in preterm infants.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neonatology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hamilcikan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Tugba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erener
authors.forename: Ethem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erginoz
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vural
authors.forename: Barbaros
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ilikkan
authors.forename: Sultan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kavuncuoglu
authors.forename: Hayrettin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Yildiz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Perk
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development*; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin