Su Hwan Kim1, Seung Hyeon Jang2, Ji Won Kim3, Byeong Gwan Kim1, Kook Lae Lee1, You Sun Kim4, Dong Soo Han5, Joo Sung Kim6. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 2. Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: giwkim@hanmail.net. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Kuri, South Korea. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Determining inflammatory activity is crucial for assessing disease activity and for tailoring therapy in patients with Crohn׳s disease (CD). This study aimed to evaluate adipocytokine levels in patients with CD and to determine whether they can serve as surrogate markers for disease activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples and information regarding the clinical features of patients in the CD Network Project registry were collected from March 2009 to February 2012. Patients with CD and disease duration of at least 2 years were enrolled in this study. Fasting serum leptin, adiponectin, obestatin and ghrelin levels were measured, and their correlation with clinical features of the patients was analyzed. Serum adipocytokine levels were evaluated according to disease activity as determined by CD activity index score. RESULTS: A total of 153 patients with CD were included. Serum ghrelin levels negatively correlated with patient age (P = 0.041) and age at diagnosis (P = 0.017), and positively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (P = 0.017). Multiple regression analysis showed that serum ghrelin levels were related only to CRP levels (P = 0.032). Like ghrelin, serum leptin levels were also related to CRP levels (P < 0.001). Obestatin and adiponectin levels were not related to CRP levels. Serum adipocytokine levels did not significantly differ across different disease locations or behaviors. Serum ghrelin levels were significantly lower in patients with CD with a history of surgery than in those without (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Serum ghrelin and leptin levels may be useful as surrogate markers for disease activity in patients with CD.
BACKGROUND: Determining inflammatory activity is crucial for assessing disease activity and for tailoring therapy in patients with Crohn׳s disease (CD). This study aimed to evaluate adipocytokine levels in patients with CD and to determine whether they can serve as surrogate markers for disease activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples and information regarding the clinical features of patients in the CD Network Project registry were collected from March 2009 to February 2012. Patients with CD and disease duration of at least 2 years were enrolled in this study. Fasting serum leptin, adiponectin, obestatin and ghrelin levels were measured, and their correlation with clinical features of the patients was analyzed. Serum adipocytokine levels were evaluated according to disease activity as determined by CD activity index score. RESULTS: A total of 153 patients with CD were included. Serum ghrelin levels negatively correlated with patient age (P = 0.041) and age at diagnosis (P = 0.017), and positively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (P = 0.017). Multiple regression analysis showed that serum ghrelin levels were related only to CRP levels (P = 0.032). Like ghrelin, serum leptin levels were also related to CRP levels (P < 0.001). Obestatin and adiponectin levels were not related to CRP levels. Serum adipocytokine levels did not significantly differ across different disease locations or behaviors. Serum ghrelin levels were significantly lower in patients with CD with a history of surgery than in those without (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Serum ghrelin and leptin levels may be useful as surrogate markers for disease activity in patients with CD.