Acylated ghrelin levels were associated with depressive status, physical quality of life, endoscopic findings based on Kyoto classification in Japan

Background and Aims: To determine whether serum acylated ghrelin levels were associated with anxiety, clinical symptoms, depressive status, quality of life, gastric motility and endoscopic findings based on Kyoto classification in functional dyspepsia (FD) patients. Methods: We enrolled three groups, FD patients (n = 15) with high levels of acylated ghrelin, FD patients (n = 33) with normal levels of acylated ghrelin and FD patients (n = 35) with low levels of acylated ghrelin. There was no significant differences in the positivity of Helicobacter pylori infection among the three groups. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and FD symptoms based on Rome III classification. Acylated ghrelin levels were measured by ELISA methods. Depressive status, anxiety, sleep disturbance were respectively asscessed by Self-rating questionnaire for depression (SRQ-D) score, STAI-state/-trait, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores. Endoscopic findings were evaluated based on Kyoto classification. Results: Body Mass Index (BMI) in FD patients with low levels of acylated ghrelin was significantly higher (p<0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively) compared to those in FD patients with high and normal levels of acylated ghrelin. SRQ-D scores in FD patients with low levels of acylated ghrelin was significantly lower (p = 0.008 and p<0.001, respectively) compared to those in FD patients with high and normal levels of acylated ghrelin. Scoring of gastric atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, xanthoma and mucus based on Kyoto classification in FD patients with low levels of acylated ghrelin were significantly higher (p<0.001, p = 0.0077, p = 0.036 and p = 0.0063, respectively) compared to those in FD patients with more than low levels of acylated ghrelin. Conclusion: Acylated ghrelin levels were associated with BMI, depressive status, and endoscopic findings based on Kyoto classification in FD patients.