Comparison of leptin, ghrelin, and nesfatin levels in growth hormone deficiency and short stature patients before and after growth hormone therapy

Lim Jung Sub; Hwang Il Tae; Kim Eun Young

doi:10.1530/endoabs.110.P631

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Endocrine Abstracts (2025) 110 P631 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.110.P631

ECEESPE2025 Poster Presentations Growth Axis and Syndromes (91 abstracts)

Comparison of leptin, ghrelin, and nesfatin levels in growth hormone deficiency and short stature patients before and after growth hormone therapy

Jung Sub Lim ¹ , Il Tae Hwang ² & Eun Young Kim ³

Author affiliations

¹Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Pediatrics, Seoul, South Korea; ²Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Pediatrics, Gangdong gu, South Korea; ³Chosun University Hospital, Pediatrics, Gwangju, South Korea

JOINT857

Objective: Leptin, ghrelin, and nesfatin are hormones that play crucial roles in regulating energy balance and metabolism. The objective of this study was to compare the levels of these hormones between patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and idiopathic short stature (ISS) and healthy controls, as well as to evaluate the changes in these hormone levels before and after recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in GHD and ISS patients.

Methods: A total of 77 prepubescent children aged 5 to 12 years were included in this study, comprising controls (n = 16), ISS patients (n = 27), and GHD patients (n = 34). Clinical parameters and serum levels of leptin, ghrelin, and nesfatin-1 were compared across the groups. Additionally, baseline and 6-month post-GH therapy values were compared in GHD and ISS patients.

Results: There were no significant differences in age, the levels of leptin, ghrelin, and nesfatin-1 among the three groups. In GHD patients, serum leptin concentrations significantly decreased after 6 months of rhGH therapy (7299. 18 ± 7779. 73 pg/mL to 4211. 85 ± 3977. 25 pg/mL, P = 0. 018), and leptin was positively correlated with BMI SDS(r = 0. 51, P < 0. 001). There were no significant changes in ghrelin levels or nesfatin-1 in GHD patients. In ISS patients, leptin levels significantly decreased after 6 months of rhGH therap(5128. 81± 3611. 55 pg/mL to 2594. 33 ± 925. 99 pg/mL p. 0. 001) but ghrelin and nesfatin-1 showed no significant differences after 6 months of rhGH therapy.

Conclusion: This study confirmed a positive correlation between Leptin and BMI SDS, and a negative correlation between Ghrelin and BMI SDS, suggesting that these hormones are closely related to BMI. GH therapy resulted in a significant decrease in leptin levels, these changes are likely to be associated with BMI alterations. These findings highlight the crucial role of growth hormone therapy not only in promoting growth but also in regulating body mass and metabolic processes in patients with GHD and ISS.