Relationship between ghrelin and obestatin levels and ghrelin/obestatin ratio in patients with asthma

Abstract

Relationship between ghrelin and obestatin levels and ghrelin/obestatinratio in patients with asthmaIntroduction: This study aimed to evaluate serum levels of ghrelin andobestatin as well as the ghrelin/obestatin ratio in non-obese patients withasthma and in healthy non-asthmatic controls and analyzed the relationshipsto clinical outcomes.Materials and Methods: 51 patients with stable persistent asthma and 36healthy controls were included to the study. Pulmonary function tests wereconducted in all case. Skin prick test and an asthma control test wereconducted in patients with asthma. All patients and controls were comparedin terms of ghrelin and obestatin levels, as well as the ghrelin/obestatin ratio.Plasma concentrations of ghrelin and obestatin were detected by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance(HOMA-IR) scores were calculated as an index of insulin resistance.Results: No differences in ghrelin or obestatin levels or the ghrelin/obestatinratio were detected between patients with asthma and the control group.Ghrelin levels were significantly lower in obese patients. The HOMA-IR scorewas significantly higher in patients with asthma than in controls.Conclusion: Ghrelin and obestatin levels, and the ghrelin/obestatin ratio, weresimilar in controls and patients with stable asthma. Although the groups weresimilar in terms of body mass index and waist circumference, the HOMA-IRscore was significantly higher in patients with asthma.