Plasma acylated ghrelin, obestatin and leptin in different stages of chronic kidney disease patients

Abstract

Objective: Malnutrition and loss of appetite remain a frequent problem in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). These patients have inflammation accompanied by high levels of plasma leptin, an appetite-modulating hormone. A newly described hormone ghrelin is also involved in regulation food intake and energy balance. In patients with end-stage renal disease and hemodialysis, high plasma ghrelin concentration has been reported, but the metabolic impact of ghrelin in CKD is unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize the changes in circulating levels of ghrelin, obestatin, leptin, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) at different stages of CKD.