Ghrelin, pancreatic polypeptide plasma concentrations and gastric myoelectric activity in celiac disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of celiac disease(CED) on the upper-gut motility and release of enteral hormones (ghrelin and pancreatic peptide (PP)).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: the study included 25 patients diagnosed with CED and 30 healthy controls. Gastric myoelectric activities (EGG) in a fasted and fed state were recorded. The plasma concentrations of ghrelin and PP were determined. R e s u l t s: CED patients presented in a fasted state a decreased percentage of normogastria 54.8 ± 24.5 vs. 86 ± 12.3%, p = 0.02 and slow wave coupling (SWC) 52.7 ± 13.4 vs. 77.4 ± 11.9%; p = 0.00001 with increased dominant power (DP) 11.6 ± 1.5 vs. 11.1 ± 1.1. Contrary to the controls, they did not show an improvement in the percentage of normogastria, DP and SWC when examined in a fed state (p 〈0.05). Furthermore, CED patients presented with significantly lower fasting plasma concentrations of ghrelin 156.8 ± 86.7 vs. 260.2 ± 87.6 pg/ml, p = 0.0002 and significantly higher fasting PP levels than did the controls 265.2 ± 306.3 vs. 54.1 ± 54.6 pg/ml, p = 0.0005. C o n c l u s i o n: CED affects gastric myoelectric activity (decreasing normogastria and coupling) and causes changes in fasting concentrations of enteral hormones (decrease in ghrelin and an increase in PP). Gastric myoelectric response to food is abolished in CED patients, probably due to the neurohormonal changes induced by primary inflammation associated with this disease.