title: Clinical effects of ghrelin on gastrointestinal involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: The majority of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) have gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement, but therapies using prokinetic agents are usually unsatisfactory. Ghrelin stimulates gastric motility in healthy human volunteers. In this study, we investigated whether ghrelin could improve gastric emptying in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms due to SSc. The study was performed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover fashion on two occasions. Ten SSc patients with GI tract involvement received an infusion of either ghrelin (5.0 μg/kg) or saline, and gastric emptying rate was evaluated by ¹³C-acetic acid breath test. Gastric emptying was significantly accelerated by ghrelin infusion in patients with SSc (ghrelin vs. saline: 43.3 ± 11.4 min vs. 53.4 ± 5.4 min, P=0.03). No serious adverse effects were observed. Our results suggest that ghrelin might represent a new therapeutic approach for GI tract involvement in patients with SSc.
authors.affiliation: Ghrelin Research Project, Translational Research Center, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ariyasu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwakura
authors.forename: Naoichiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yukawa
authors.forename: Toshinori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yokode
authors.forename: Harue
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teramukai
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yonezawa
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kangawa
authors.forename: Tsuneyo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mimori
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akamizu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001628:Beverages; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012528:Satiety Response / Q000187:drug effects; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015507:Drugs, Investigational; C515349:GHRL protein, human; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D054439:Ghrelin