Relationship between total ghrelin and nutritional parameters in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Ghrelin is regarded to be correlated to nutrition status. To verify this relationship, 30 patients on hemodialysis(HD), 18 patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD) and 18 healthy volunteers(Control) were involved in this observational study. Total plasma ghrelin(ELISA) and nutritional parameters (including biochemical index, body composition, and nutrition risk screening score 2002, NRS2002) were measured. Data were showed by Mean±SD, probability values <0.05 were considered significant. Statistical analysis was determined using SPSS 15.0. Ghrelin levels was significantly increased in HD patients (4.55±2.34ng/ml (pre-HD), p<0.0001) than in CKD(2.32±1.32ng/ml) and Control (1.99±0.83ng/ml),and declined after HD(2.27±1.12ng/ml, p<0.0001). In HD group, plasma ghrelin levels were negatively correlated with pre-albumin(PA, r=-0.461,P=0.010). When all participants combined together, the plasma ghrelin levels was positively correlated with serum creatinine(r=0.426,P=0.0001) and urea nitrogen(r=0.366,P=0.003),but negatively correlated with e-GFR(r=-0.411,P=0.001), PA(r=-0.321s,P=0.009) and lymphocyte(r=-0.417,P=0.0001). No relationship was showed between ghrelin and BMI, NRS2002 in HD group. In conclusion, total ghrelin levels was elevated in HD patients, and negatively correlated with pre-albumin, and negatively correlate with PA,lymphocyte in all participants. A future study with the stratification of HD patients according to their appetite and body composition may help to further evaluation