Serum ghrelin levels: Is there any association with malnutrition and depression in peritoneal dialysis patients?

BACKGROUND

Ghrelin is a physiologic regulatory hormone of appetite and body weight, and its concentrations increase in chronic kidney disease. This study aimed to analyze the effects of malnutrition and depression on the plasma ghrelin levels in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

METHODS/PATIENTS: The relationship between fasting serum ghrelin concentration, type of dialysate solution, malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS), and depressive symptoms of 87 PD patients were analyzed. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory.

RESULTS

No significant relationship between ghrelin concentration and body mass index (BMI), MIS or depression scores was detected. The mean serum ghrelin concentration in patients using amino acid-based solutions was higher than in non-users (p <0.001). The mean serum ghrelin concentration of the patients using icodextrin-based solutions was found to be significantly higher than non-users (8.69 ± 5.04 vs 6.61 ± 2.8 ng/ml respectively, p =0.02). There was no significant difference in MIS between the patients in terms of amino-acid and/or icodextrin usage.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no association between BMI, MIS, and depression with ghrelin concentrations in PD patients. Icodextrin and/or amino acid-based solutions usage may increase the serum ghrelin concentration without a significant effect on BMI and measures of malnutrition. HIPPOKRATIA 2018, 22(1): 43-48.