BACKGROUND: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an auto-inflammatory disorder characterized by febrile attacks. Increased acute-phase reactants are characteristic during febrile attacks. Ghrelin is a natural G-protein that decreases secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acts as anti-inflammatory agent. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is any change in ghrelin levels and whether increases in ghrelin levels can be used as a marker in these patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven male patients and 30 healthy men as a control group were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained for ghrelin measurements both before the attacks (pre-attack period; ghrelin 1 group) and during the attacks (ghrelin 2 group). Samples were kept at -80°C until the analysis was conducted and plasma ghrelin levels were measured using an immune-sorbent assay method. RESULTS: Mean ghrelin levels measured during the attacks were significantly higher (11.01 ± 4.78 pg/ml) as compared to pre-attack levels (5.78 ± 2.17 pg/ml; p < 0.001). Similarly, mean ghrelin levels measured in FMF patients during an attack were significantly different from that of the control group (6.57 ± 4.13 pg/ml; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, high ghrelin levels were measured during attacks in FMF patients. This finding is in line with previous results regarding the fact that inflammatory response arising during an FMF attack is an acute inflammatory event. Our findings suggest that ghrelin levels measured during FMF attacks could be used as a biochemical indicator for the FMF attack in FMF patients and that it could be used for support of the diagnosis of the disease.
BACKGROUND:Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an auto-inflammatory disorder characterized by febrile attacks. Increased acute-phase reactants are characteristic during febrile attacks. Ghrelin is a natural G-protein that decreases secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acts as anti-inflammatory agent. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is any change in ghrelin levels and whether increases in ghrelin levels can be used as a marker in these patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven male patients and 30 healthy men as a control group were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained for ghrelin measurements both before the attacks (pre-attack period; ghrelin 1 group) and during the attacks (ghrelin 2 group). Samples were kept at -80°C until the analysis was conducted and plasma ghrelin levels were measured using an immune-sorbent assay method. RESULTS: Mean ghrelin levels measured during the attacks were significantly higher (11.01 ± 4.78 pg/ml) as compared to pre-attack levels (5.78 ± 2.17 pg/ml; p < 0.001). Similarly, mean ghrelin levels measured in FMFpatients during an attack were significantly different from that of the control group (6.57 ± 4.13 pg/ml; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, high ghrelin levels were measured during attacks in FMFpatients. This finding is in line with previous results regarding the fact that inflammatory response arising during an FMF attack is an acute inflammatory event. Our findings suggest that ghrelin levels measured during FMF attacks could be used as a biochemical indicator for the FMF attack in FMFpatients and that it could be used for support of the diagnosis of the disease.
Authors: Wei Gen Li; Dan Gavrila; Xuebo Liu; Lixing Wang; Skuli Gunnlaugsson; Lynn L Stoll; Michael L McCormick; Curt D Sigmund; Chaosu Tang; Neal L Weintraub Journal: Circulation Date: 2004-04-26 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Claudia Fonnesu; Claudia Cerquaglia; Maria Giovinale; Valentina Curigliano; Elena Verrecchia; Giuliana de Socio; Micaela La Regina; Giovanni Gasbarrini; Raffaele Manna Journal: Joint Bone Spine Date: 2008-12-16 Impact factor: 4.929
Authors: Mehmet Yalniz; Ibrahim Halil Bahcecioglu; Huseyin Ataseven; Bilal Ustundag; Fulya Ilhan; Orhan K Poyrazoglu; Ahmet Erensoy Journal: Mediators Inflamm Date: 2006 Impact factor: 4.711