Serum ghrelin, IL-6 and TNF-α levels for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases

In recent years; it is determined that endocrine factors can play role on cachexia in COPD. High levels of ghrelin, an appetite initiating hormone, is reported in cachectic COPD cases but its? relation couldn?t shown statistically.In our study, it is aimed to detect serum ghrelin levels in COPD, its? relation with proinflammatory cytokines and its? role on pulmonary hypertension (PH) that is seen in COPD.Sixty stable COPD patients and 15 healthy volunteers were included in the study. COPD patients were divided into two groups, cachectic and normal weight, according to their body mass index (BMI). Besides; these two groups were divided into subgroups according to pulmonary hypertension (PH) presence. PH was detected by echocardiography. Spirometric assessments were performed and serum TNF-?, IL-6 and ghrelin levels were measured in all cases.When COPD patients were compared with control group; serum ghrelin levels were statistically lower, TNF-? and IL-6 levels were statically higher in COPD group. For cachectic COPD patients; serum ghrelin levels were statistically lower and IL-6 levels were statistically higher, compared with normal weight COPD patients. Although, serum TNF-? levels were higher for cachectic COPD patients; these levels were not significant. For cachectic COPD patients who have PH; ghrelin levels were statistically lower and IL-6 levels were higher, compared with patients who don?t have PH, TNF-? levels were also high but these levels were not significant. For normal weight COPD patients who have PH; ghrelin and TNF-? levels were statistically lower compared with patients who don?t have PH. There is no significantly differences for IL-6 levels between these two groups. Positive correlation between serum ghrelin levels and BMI was detected.As a result; it is thought that increased proinflammatory cytokins and decreased serum active ghrelin levels may contribute to the development of weight loss but not prominent effect on development of PH.