title: The role of ghrelin, neuropeptide Y and leptin peptides in weight gain after deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The exact mechanism of weight gain (WG) after deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease remains unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate a possible involvement of ghrelin, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and leptin in WG after DBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three Parkinson patients were submitted for body composition measurements and blood sampling 3 days before, and 3 and 6 months after STN DBS. Peripheral concentrations of ghrelin, NPY, and leptin were determined, as well as the L-dopa equivalent daily dose. Patients were clinically evaluated using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three months after surgery, a significant WG was observed (3.09 ± 5.00 kg; p = 0.007) with no further increase at 6 months. Three months postoperatively, NPY circulating levels increased significantly (p = 0.05), while the increase of ghrelin levels reached statistical significance at 6 months (p = 0.001). WG was significantly associated with changes of ghrelin and leptin levels at 3 and 6 months, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STN DBS seems to temporarily dysregulate the hypothalamic secretion of NPY and ghrelin. The variation of weight may be attributed to an increased production of ghrelin and leptin. A possible neuroprotective role of DBS, exerted through the increase of ghrelin levels, should be further studied.
authors.affiliation: Functional Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Patras, Rion, Greece.
authors.forename: Elli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Markaki
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellul
authors.forename: Zinovia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kefalopoulou
authors.forename: Eftichia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trachani
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulou
authors.forename: Venetsana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kyriazopoulou
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Constantoyannis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin; D009478:Neuropeptide Y