title: Relation between ghrelin level and treatment response in functional constipation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ghrelin stimulates gastrointestinal motility. Although there are some experimental and clinical studies supporting the role of ghrelin for gastrointestinal motility disorders, limited research for constipation has been published. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible role of ghrelin in the pathophysiology of functional constipation in childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three newly diagnosed constipated children aged 1-6 years and 25 healthy age-matched controls were included. Serum ghrelin levels were analyzed initially in both groups. Treatment protocol consisted of dietary modification, lactulose, and administration of pediatric enema. Ghrelin levels of children with functional constipation were reanalyzed after two monthsof treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial serum ghrelin levels of constipated patients were found to be lower than those of healthy children (p<0.001). Ghrelin levels increased during therapy. The differences between initial and second month serum ghrelin levels of constipated patients were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data supports the potential role of ghrelin in children with functional constipation. Observation of an increase in serum ghrelin levels with nonspecific treatment supports the hypothesis that low serum ghrelin levels might be a result rather than the cause of constipation.
authors.affiliation: Gazi University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Odül Eğritaş
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Gürkan
authors.forename: Buket
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dalgıç
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bideci
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003248:Constipation / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D004733:Enema; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007792:Lactulose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D054439:Ghrelin; D007792:Lactulose