The relationship between ghrelin and ghrelin leu72met polymorphism in coronary artery disease

Purpose: Ghrelin represents a hormone, which is defined as an endogenous ligand bound to the growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHS-R1a). However, the mechanisms that underlie ghrelin’s impacts on cardiovascular diseases have not been completely detected. For this reason, we aimed to research the relationship between serum ghrelin and ghrelin gene polymorphism in coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 88 patients diagnosed with a minimum of one coronary artery stenosis over 70%, and the control group comprised 81 individuals without coronary artery lesions. An autoanalyzer was used to analyze fasting blood glucose (FBG) and lipid parameter levels. Ghrelin levels were examined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Results: Ghrelin levels were found to be 2.2 ng/ml in the control group and 2.1 ng/ml in the CAD group. No statistical relation in ghrelin Leu72Met genotypes were detected between the control and patient groups. Conclusion: Serum ghrelin levels were higher in the control group than in the CAD group. Whether ghrelin levels and Leu72Met polymorphism have protective effects in CAD must be revealed in an extensive study group with other polymorphisms and ghrelin expression in the ghrelin gene.