Correlation between Plasma or Mucosal Ghrelin Levels and Chronic Gastritis

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between plasma or mucosal ghrelin levels and endoscopic or histological severity, acid secretion and H. pylori infection associated with chronic gastritis. Methodology: We measured plasma and mucosal ghrelin levels in 80 consecutive individuals with chronic gastritis, including 51 H. pylori-positive and 29 H. pylon-negative subjects. The topographic distribution of gastritis was divided into open type and closed type. During endoscopy, five adjacent biopsy specimens were obtained from the antrum, corpus and angulus. Using the updated Sydney System, histological parameters including activity, chronic inflammation, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were graded. Mucosal ghrelin, fasting plasma ghrelin, serum pepsinogen I and II, gastrin and H. pylori infection were all measured. Results: All four measured histological parameters were significantly higher in H. pylori-positive patients than in H. pylori-negative patients. Serum pepsinogen I and II levels were also significantly higher in the H. pylori-positive group. Plasma and mucosal ghrelin levels correlated well with the topographic distribution of gastritis, and also with histological parameters of glandular atrophy in the corpus and angulus of the stomach. Conclusions: Plasma and mucosal ghrelin levels may reflect the extent of atrophy in the stomach irrespective of the presence of H. pylori infection, which is closely associated with the development of chronic gastritis.