BACKGROUND: High plasma ghrelin levels have been reported in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). However, little is known about plasma ghrelin in these children during the first years of life characterized by a failure to thrive. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate total plasma ghrelin levels in children with PWS and controls from 2 months to 17 years. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty children with PWS [24 boys, 16 girls, median age 3.6 yr, median body mass index (BMI) Z-score 0.3] were compared with 84 controls (57 boys, 27 girls, median age 4.2 yr median BMI Z-score 0.1). Children were then divided into two groups according to age and GH treatment. RESULTS: Median plasma ghrelin levels were significantly higher in children with PWS, compared with controls at any age (568 vs. 173, P < 0.0001) and decreased with age in both groups (P < 0.0001). In the whole group of PWS, we found an inverse relationship between ghrelin and BMI Z-score, insulin, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index, leptin, and lean mass. Plasma ghrelin levels were higher in children with PWS than controls, both in the youngest children below 3 yr who were not receiving GH (771 vs. 233, P < 0.0001) and in the children older than 3 yr, all of whom were treated with GH (428 vs. 159, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma ghrelin levels in children with PWS are elevated at any age, including during the first years of life, thus preceding the development of obesity.
BACKGROUND: High plasma ghrelin levels have been reported in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). However, little is known about plasma ghrelin in these children during the first years of life characterized by a failure to thrive. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate total plasma ghrelin levels in children with PWS and controls from 2 months to 17 years. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty children with PWS [24 boys, 16 girls, median age 3.6 yr, median body mass index (BMI) Z-score 0.3] were compared with 84 controls (57 boys, 27 girls, median age 4.2 yr median BMI Z-score 0.1). Children were then divided into two groups according to age and GH treatment. RESULTS: Median plasma ghrelin levels were significantly higher in children with PWS, compared with controls at any age (568 vs. 173, P < 0.0001) and decreased with age in both groups (P < 0.0001). In the whole group of PWS, we found an inverse relationship between ghrelin and BMI Z-score, insulin, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index, leptin, and lean mass. Plasma ghrelin levels were higher in children with PWS than controls, both in the youngest children below 3 yr who were not receiving GH (771 vs. 233, P < 0.0001) and in the children older than 3 yr, all of whom were treated with GH (428 vs. 159, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma ghrelin levels in children with PWS are elevated at any age, including during the first years of life, thus preceding the development of obesity.
Authors: Sarah Bartz; Aaloke Mody; Christoph Hornik; James Bain; Michael Muehlbauer; Tonny Kiyimba; Elizabeth Kiboneka; Robert Stevens; John Bartlett; John V St Peter; Christopher B Newgard; Michael Freemark Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2014-02-27 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Krystal A Irizarry; James Bain; Merlin G Butler; Olga Ilkayeva; Michael Muehlbauer; Andrea M Haqq; Michael Freemark Journal: Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) Date: 2015-04-01 Impact factor: 3.478
Authors: Roja Motaghedi; Elizabeth G Lipman; Jeannette E Hogg; Paul J Christos; Maria G Vogiatzi; Moris A Angulo Journal: Eur J Med Genet Date: 2010-10-20 Impact factor: 2.708
Authors: Lisa C Burnett; Charles A LeDuc; Carlos R Sulsona; Daniel Paull; Richard Rausch; Sanaa Eddiry; Jayne F Martin Carli; Michael V Morabito; Alicja A Skowronski; Gabriela Hubner; Matthew Zimmer; Liheng Wang; Robert Day; Brynn Levy; Ilene Fennoy; Beatrice Dubern; Christine Poitou; Karine Clement; Merlin G Butler; Michael Rosenbaum; Jean Pierre Salles; Maithe Tauber; Daniel J Driscoll; Dieter Egli; Rudolph L Leibel Journal: J Clin Invest Date: 2016-12-12 Impact factor: 14.808