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Eva Feigerlová, Gwenaëlle Diene, Françoise Conte-Auriol, Catherine Molinas, Isabelle Gennero, Jean-Pierre Salles, Catherine Arnaud, Maïthé Tauber, Hyperghrelinemia Precedes Obesity in Prader-Willi Syndrome, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 93, Issue 7, 1 July 2008, Pages 2800–2805, https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2007-2138
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Abstract
Background: High plasma ghrelin levels have been reported in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). However, little is known about plasma ghrelin in these children during the first years of life characterized by a failure to thrive.
Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate total plasma ghrelin levels in children with PWS and controls from 2 months to 17 years.
Subjects and Methods: Forty children with PWS [24 boys, 16 girls, median age 3.6 yr, median body mass index (BMI) Z-score 0.3] were compared with 84 controls (57 boys, 27 girls, median age 4.2 yr median BMI Z-score 0.1). Children were then divided into two groups according to age and GH treatment.
Results: Median plasma ghrelin levels were significantly higher in children with PWS, compared with controls at any age (568 vs. 173, P < 0.0001) and decreased with age in both groups (P < 0.0001). In the whole group of PWS, we found an inverse relationship between ghrelin and BMI Z-score, insulin, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index, leptin, and lean mass. Plasma ghrelin levels were higher in children with PWS than controls, both in the youngest children below 3 yr who were not receiving GH (771 vs. 233, P < 0.0001) and in the children older than 3 yr, all of whom were treated with GH (428 vs. 159, P < 0.0001).
Conclusions: Plasma ghrelin levels in children with PWS are elevated at any age, including during the first years of life, thus preceding the development of obesity.
