title: A study of serum levels of leptin, ghrelin and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in child patients with cyanotic and acyanotic, congenital heart disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the serum levels of leptin, ghrelin and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in children with cyanotic and acyanotic congenital heart disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prospective cohort study, was conducted at imam Ali Hospital, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2009-10 and comprised 64 subjects, including patients and controls. Using enzyme-linked immunosorpent assay kits, serum levels of ghrelin, leptin and tumour necrosis factor-alpha were measured and compared among patients (both cyanotic and acyanotic) and the controls, SPSS version 20 was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 64 subjects, 24 (37.5%) were cyanotic, 21 (32.8%) were acynotic and 19 (29.68%) were healthy controls. The three groups were homogenous in terms of age and gender characteristics. There was no significant difference among the groups leptin, ghrelin and tumour necrosis factor-alpha serum levels (p > 0.05). There were also no significant differences in terms of weight, height and body mass index (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum levels of ghrelin, leptin and tumour necrosis factor-alpha did not change in acyanotic and cyanotic patients with congenital heart disease, suggesting that other crucial factors may regulate individuals' nutrient intake, growth, weight and energy intake and output.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shahramian
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Noor Mohammad
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Noori
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Bio-chemistry, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.affiliation: 4Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sharafi
authors.affiliation: 5Health Promotion Research Centre and Faculty of Health, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolvahab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baghbanian
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha