Serum, Urine, and Saliva Levels of Ghrelin and Obestatin Pre- and Post-treatment in Pediatric Epilepsy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed to determine the serum, urine, and saliva levels of acyl ghrelin, des-acyl ghrelin, and obestatin in the newly diagnosed idiopathic generalized pediatric epilepsy patients in the pretreatment period and in the third month of valproic acid. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty pre- and post-treatment cases of patients who were diagnosed with idiopathic generalized epilepsy and 30 control patients were included in this study. Serum, saliva, and urine levels of ghrelin were measured in epileptic group and in the control group in the pretreatment period and in the third month of the treatment. RESULTS: There were 14 females and 16 males. Mean age was 8.9 +/- 2.5 years. Mean body mass index was 17.2 +/- 2.3 in the patients and 16.6 +/- 2.0 in the control group, whereas it was 16.8 +/- 2.1 in the third month of the therapy (P > 0.05). Pretherapy serum, urine, and saliva levels of acyl ghrelin were 36.45 +/- 9.93, 31.78 +/- 12.87, and 34.23 +/- 11.49 pg/mL, respectively in the patient group. Post-treatment serum, urine, and saliva levels of acyl ghrelin were 51.34 +/- 12.01, 48.24 +/- 16.76, and 44.90 +/- 14.99 pg/mL in the patient group. Pretherapy serum, urine, and saliva levels of des-acyl ghrelin were 419.62 +/- 75.63, 370.59 +/- 60.11, and 396.28 +/- 60.76 pg/mL, respectively in the patient group. Post-therapy serum, urine, and saliva levels of des-acyl ghrelin were 458.61 +/- 87.10, 429.92 +/- 55.81, and 449.48 +/- 74.32 pg/mL, respectively in the patient group. Pretherapy serum, urine, and 'saliva levels of obestatin were 23.02 +/- 3.15, 14.27 +/- 4.22, and 29.52 +/- 5.39 ng/mL, respectively. Post-therapy serum, urine, and saliva levels of obestatin were 24.30 +/- 4.18, 15.27 +/- 6.43, and 30.94 +/- 7.42 ng/mL, respectively. CONCLUSION: There was a significant increase in the serum, urine, and saliva levels of acyl ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin without an increase in post-therapy body mass index in idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients.