Correlation between the tissue ghrelin presence, disease activity and laboratory parameters in ulcerative colitis patients; immunohistochemical study

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the differences in terms of ghrelin presence in the colon between the patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and control patients. METHODS: Sixty-one UC and 15 control patients were included in the study. Immunohistochemical staining for ghrelin was investigated in colonic biopsy samples of UC and control patients. UC patients were subdivided into Group A (absence of ghrelin staining) and Group B (presence of staining for ghrelin in biopsy samples). Disease activity scores, laboratory parameters and quantitative ghrelin staining were compared in both groups of UC patients, as well as with the observations in control patients. RESULTS: Cells in colonic mucosa stained for ghrelin were identified in twenty-three (37.7%) UC patients, while this proportion in control patients was 6/15(40%). A significant difference was found between Groups A and B for serum albumin concentration but not for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin concentration or leucocyte count. Mayo score/disease activity index (DAI) for UC were significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in the amount of colonic ghrelin staining between healthy individuals and UC patients. Colonic ghrelin staining in UC patients seems to be associated with the increased activity of this disease.