Serum Ghrelin and Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Levels in Children with Prader-Willi and Bardet-Biedl Syndromes.

OBJECTIVE

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) are causes of pediatric syndromic obesity. We aimed to investigate a possible role for ghrelin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in the pathophysiology of PWS and BBS.

METHODS

The study included 12 children with PWS, 12 children with BBS, 13 pediatric obese controls (OC) and 12 pediatric lean controls (LC). Fasting serum ghrelin and GLP-1 levels were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

In the PWS group, no significant difference was detected for median ghrelin levels when compared with OC and LC, which were 0.96 (0.69-1.15), 0.92 (0.72-1.20) and 1.13 (0.84-1.29) ng/mL, respectively. Similarly, there was no difference in PWS median GLP-1 levels when compared with OC and LC; 1.86 (1.5-2.94), 2.24 (1.62-2.78) and 2.06 (1.8-3.41) ng/mL, respectively. In the BBS group, there was no difference in median ghrelin levels when compared with OC and LC; 1.05 (0.87-1.51), 0.92 (0.72-1.20) and 1.13 (0.84-1.29) ng/mL, respectively. Neither was there a significant difference in median GLP-1 levels; 2.46 (1.91-4.17), 2.24 (1.62-2.78) and 2.06 (1.8-3.41) ng/mL for BBS, OC and LC, respectively.

CONCLUSION

There were no differences in median fasting ghrelin or GLP-1 levels when comparing patients with PWS and BBS with obese or lean peers. However, similar studies with larger series are needed.