title: The role of orexin A in metabolic disturbances in patients with acromegaly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been reported that orexins may play an important role in GH regulation. Orexins participate in the regulation of pituitary hormones secretion, food intake regulation, and the sleep-wake cycle. It has been suggested that a defect of orexin A synthesis could be responsible for disturbances in GH synthesis in patients with acromegaly, and consequently aggravate metabolic disturbances caused by high levels of IGF1.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  THE AIM OF THIS STUDY was to assess orexin A levels in relation to the activity of the disease and the influence on metabolic profile in patients with acromegaly.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 55 acromegalic patients divided into three main groups: a surgically cured acromegalic group (SCA); a well-controlled acromegalic group (WCA); an active acromegalic group (AA); and 29 healthy controls. In all subjects, blood samples were taken to assess the concentration of orexin A, lipids, glucose, insulin and hormones of the pituitary and peripheral glands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentration of orexin A was highest in the control group (CG) and lowest in the WCA group. The differences of orexin A concentration were statistically significant when each group of acromegalics were compared to the CG. There were no significant differences in orexin A concentration among the studied groups of patients with acromegaly. The metabolic disturbances were more often observed in the groups of acromegaly patients. In the AA group, orexin A concentrations correlated negatively with plasma lipids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The concentration of orexin A is reduced in acromegaly compared to healthy subjects.
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Isotope Therapy, Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors: Aleksandra
authors: A
authors: Jawiarczyk-Przybyłowska
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Bolanowski
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000097:blood*; D000068797:Orexins
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; C000596229:HCRT protein, human; D007328:Insulin; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone