[Analysis of serum levels of nesfatin-1 in children and adolescents with autoimmune thyroid diseases].

INTRODUCTION

Overweight and diseases connected with it are an increasing problem in children and adolescents. Thyroid disease leads to a change of weight - in hyperthyroidism body mass is reduced whereas in hypothyroidism it is increased. It is emphasized that changes in hormones such as peptide levels are in close relationship with the regulation of body mass. Nesfatin-1 is a recently described anorexigenic peptide produced by the brain. Nesfatin-1 also reduces body weight gain, suggesting a role as a new modulator of energy balance. Excess nesfatin in the brain leads to a loss of appetite, less frequent hunger, a sense of fullness´, and a drop in body fat and weight. A lack of nesfatin-1 in the brain leads to an increase of appetite, more frequent episodes of hunger, an increase of body fat and weight, and the inability to feel full´. Aim of the study was to evaluate nesfatin-1 levels in young patients with untreated Graves´ disease, subclinical Hashimoto´ thyroiditis, and in healthy children.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study group formed 78 patients of the Outpatient Endocrinology Clinic of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Division. In all the patients, nesfatin level was analyzed by the ELISA´s method.

RESULTS

In the group with hyperthyroidism in Graves´ disease lower levels of nesfatin-1 were found compared to the group of healthy children (19.37 vs 32.96 ng/ml; p<0.02); after appropriate treatment in that group the levels of nesfatin-1 were higher compared to the group with hyperthyroidism, but lower compared to the group of healthy children (20.35 vs 32.96 ng/ml; NS). On the other hand, nesfatin-1 levels were lower in children with untreated subclinical hypothyroidism in Hashimoto´s thyroiditis compared to the group of healthy children (17.2 vs32.96 ng/ml; p<0.002). After treatment of L-thyroxine lower levels of nesfatin-1 were found compared to the control group (14.5 vs 32.96 ng/ml; NS). No relationship between nesfatin-1 and thyroid hormones was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

It might be that disturbances in thyroid hormones in thyroid diseases do not have an essential effect on changes of nesfatin-1 - an appetite-controlling hormone/peptide. Secondly, nesfatin-1 levels were lower in children with untreated autoimmune thyroid diseases, however, the mechanism is also unknown.