Association of Cord Blood Des-Acyl Ghrelin with Apgar Score and Anthropometric Measures in Relation to Its Maternal One
Enas R. Abdelhamid1, Alyaa H. Kamhawy*1, Hanaa H. Ahmed2, Mones M. Abu Shady1, Ahmed Fathy1 and Reham F. Fahmy1

1Department of Childhealth, Medical Division, National Research Center (NRC), Cairo, Egypt, 33rd El Bohouth st, Former El Tahrir st, Dokki, Giza, POB:12311,  Egypt.

2Department of Hormones, Medical Division, National Research Center (NRC),Cairo, Egypt, 33rd El Bohouth st, former El Tahrir st, Dokki, Giza, POB:12311, Egypt.

Corresponding Author E-mail: alyaakamhawy@hotmail.com

Abstract: Ghrelin is a pleiotropic hormone that governs eating and energy equilibrium as well as  promotes the release of  growth hormone release. Although cord blood ghrelin has been correlated to the weight at birth  and other anthropometric measures, the implication of des-acyl ghrelin in fetal and postnatal growth still not well understood. The goal  of this research was to investigate the concentration of des-acyl ghrelin (DAG)  in cord blood of appropriate for gestational age (AGA), small for gestational age (SGA)  and  large for gestational age (LGA) infants in order to elucidate their correlation with birth weight, anthropometric measures  as well as apgar score of the newborn and relating them to maternal DAG levels. Cord blood specimens  were procured  from 25 SGA, 24 AGA infants and 25 LGA infants. Desacyl ghrelin, was quantified by ELIZA. A significant negative correlation has been found  between cord ghrelin and neonatal anrthropometric measures( neonatal weight, height, head circumference, mean arm circumference) As well, a significant negative correlation has been detected  between cord ghrelin and apgar score at 1 and 5 min. The current  results shed the light on the  critical role of DAG in the growth during the intrauterine period. Further studies are necessary  to identify  the exact mechanisms  underlying the contribution of  DAG in the growth of the fetus.

Keywords: Apgar Score; Anthropometric Measures; Birth Weight; Cord Blood; Des-Acyl Ghrelin

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