2013.05.14
Abnormal ghrelin secretion contributes to gastrointestinal symptoms in multiple system atrophy patients
（J Neurol. 2013 Aug;260(8):2073-7. doi: 10.1007/s00415-013-6944-9. Epub 2013 May 8.）
Ozawa T1, Tokunaga J1, Arakawa M1, Ishikawa A2, Takeuchi R1, Mezaki N1, Miura T1, Sakai N1, Hokari M1, Takeshima A1, Utsumi K1, Kondo T2, Yokoseki A1, Nishizawa M1.
1Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University
2Department of Neurology, Brain Disease Center Agano Hospital, Agano
Abstract
Patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) often have evidence of compromised gastrointestinal motility. Ghrelin is a gut hormone that influences gastrointestinal motility in humans. The aim of this study was to determine whether ghrelin secretion is affected in MSA patients, and to investigate the relation between ghrelin secretion and gastrointestinal symptoms. Plasma levels of active ghrelin and unacylated ghrelin were measured in patients with MSA (n = 30), other atypical parkinsonian disorders including progressive supranuclear palsy-Richardson syndrome and corticobasal syndrome (n = 24), and control subjects (n = 24) using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays. Gastrointestinal symptoms were quantified in all subjects using a self-report questionnaire. The ratio of active ghrelin to total ghrelin in the plasma (active ghrelin ratio) was lower in patients with MSA (mean: 8.0 %) than in patients with other atypical parkinsonian disorders (mean: 13.7 %, P = 0.001) and control subjects (mean:13.9 %, P = 0.001). The active ghrelin ratio was correlated with the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms in MSA (r = -0.5, P = 0.004). Our observations indicate that ghrelin secretion is affected in patients with MSA. The low active ghrelin ratio may contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms in MSA.
