Clinical application of ghrelin for chronic respiratory diseases.

The discovery of ghrelin has resulted in the development of potential therapeutics for cachexia caused by multiple underlying diseases. When chronic respiratory diseases progress to their advanced stages, cachexia often occurs, thereby worsening the patient's prognosis. A small clinical trial that enrolled cachectic patients with chronic respiratory disease revealed that administration of ghrelin improved their nutritional status and exercise tolerance. Short-term administration of ghrelin was found to be safe and tolerated with adverse events, including suffusion, sleepiness, peristalsis, hunger, and sweating. Further large-scale and long-term clinical trials are needed.