Author/Authors :
Erden, Ilker Department of Dermatology - Elazig Education and Research Hospital, Elazig, Turkey , Uçak, Haydar Department of Dermatology - Faculty of Medicine - Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey , Demir, Betül Department of Dermatology - Faculty of Medicine - Firat University, Elazig, Turkey , Cicek, Demet Department of Dermatology - Faculty of Medicine - Firat University, Elazig, Turkey , Bakar Dertlioğlu, Selma Department of Dermatology - Faculty of Medicine - Firat University, Elazig, Turkey , Aydin, Suleyman Department of Medical Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry (Firat Hormones Research Group) - Faculty of Medicine - Firat University, Elazig, Turkey , Ozturk, Savas Department of Dermatology - Faculty of Medicine - Balıkesir University, Balıkesir, Turkey
Abstract :
Introduction
Behcet’s disease (BD) is a chronic, relapsing, systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology.
Aim
To measure serum ghrelin levels in BD patients and healthy controls and to investigate its association with metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Material and methods
Thirty BD patients and 30 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Ghrelin levels were measured in blood samples using ELISA.
Results
The mean serum ghrelin level in BD patients (28.57 ±14.04) was significantly lower compared to healthy controls (40.72 ±23.21) (p = 0.01). The mean serum ghrelin level in BD patients who had MetS (24.18 ±12.73) was lower compared to BD patients who did not have MetS (30.77 ±14.45), but this difference was not significant (p > 0.05).
Conclusions
Ghrelin levels were lower in BD patients compared to healthy controls. There was no association between reduced ghrelin levels and MetS; however, there was a negative correlation between ghrelin levels and disease activity.
Keywords :
Behcet’s disease , ghrelin , metabolic syndrome , insulin resistance
