title: Ghrelin and obestatin levels in hypertensive obese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate plasma total ghrelin and obestatin levels and the ghrelin/obestatin ratio prospectively, in hypertensive obese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Height, weight, and waist and hip circumferences were measured in hypertensive and normotensive obese patients and matched healthy controls; the body mass index and waist to hip ratio were calculated. Fasting glucose and insulin levels were measured and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was determined. Fasting ghrelin and obestatin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and the ghrelin/obestatin ratio was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 38 hypertensive obese patients, 40 normotensive obese patients and 38 controls were enrolled. Hypertensive obese patients had lower plasma levels of ghrelin and obestatin than normotensive obese patients or controls. In addition, normotensive obese patients had lower plasma ghrelin and obestatin levels than controls. In hypertensive obese patients, ghrelin and obestatin levels were negatively associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR. In normotensive obese patients, ghrelin, obestatin and the ghrelin/obestatin ratio were negatively associated with fasting insulin and HOMA-IR. In both patient groups, fasting obestatin and ghrelin concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with each other.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in the levels of ghrelin and obestatin may play a role in the pathophysiology of obesity and hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China Department of Cardiology, Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Min
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China physician1990@sohu.com.
authors.forename: Shu-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Fu-Man
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Cheng
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Chang
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Yang-Xue
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; C505799:obestatin, human
keywords: Hypertension; ghrelin; insulin resistance; obesity; obestatin; radioimmunoassay