Study of plasma ghrelin in thyroid dysfunction

Abstract EN

Background : Ghrelin, the 28 -amino acid n- octanoylated peptide, is a potent orexigenic hormone that target neuroendocrine networks within the central nervous system to regulate energy homeostasis, hi thyroid pathophysiological states it was suggested that ghrelin may play a role in alteration of energy homeostasis and body weight.

Obgective : Is to evaluate the possible relation between change in plasma ghrelin level and energy homeostasis in patients with different thyroid gland dysfunction Study design : 30 Patients with thyroid disease classified as 15 hyperthyroid and 15 hypothyroid patients, and 15 healthy subjects were choosen as a control group.

Patients were subjected to full history taking and thorough clinical examination with special emphasis on the manifestations of thyroid dysfunction, calculation of BMl and laboratory investigations including thyroid function tests (TSH, FT3 , FT4 ), CBC LFT, KFT, and plasma level of active ghrelin.

Results ; Plasma level of active Ghrelin showed high significant statistical difference between the studied groups, being elevated in hypothyroid patients (44.06 ± 16.38 frnol /ml) and suppressed in hyperthyroid patients (23.26 ± 5.56fmol/ml) versus control group (31.00 ± 3.42 finol / ml).

Results showed significant direct correlation between ghrelin and body weight, body mass index and waist circumference but no significant correlation between ghrelin and hip circumference, w / li ratio and height in the studied groups.

Conclusion ; Plasma ghrelin is suppressed in patients with hyperthyroidism and elevated in patients with hypothyroidism ,the changes in weight, appetite and energy expenditure occurring in thyroid disturbances are most probably not due to the effect of ghrelin and plasma ghrelin in thyroid disturbances may be regulated by a direct effect of thyroid hormones