The relationship of active ghrelin levels and intrauterine growth in preterm infants

Abstract

Objective: We examined the association of active ghrelin levels with birth weight, sex, and gestational age (GA) in small for GA (SGA) and appropriate for GA (AGA) preterm infants. Methods: Active ghrelin levels were measured by ELISA method during the first five postnatal days in 38 preterm SGA infants and 32 preterm AGA controls. Results: Active ghrelin levels were significantly higher in preterm SGA infants than in preterm AGA controls (P<0.01). Active ghrelin levels in preterms with birth weight <1500 g were statistically higher than those over 1500 g. Active ghrelin levels in preterms ≤34 gestational weeks were similar to those over 34 weeks. A negative correlation was detected between active ghrelin levels and birth weight (r=-0.561, P<0.0001) as well as GA (r=-0.449, P<0.0001). Conclusion: We found significantly higher active ghrelin levels in SGA preterms than those in AGA preterms and demonstrated a negative correlation between active ghrelin levels and birth weight in preterm infants. This was the first study showing a negative correlation between active ghrelin levels and birth weight in preterm infants. © 2012 European Society of Endocrinology.