Ghrelin in small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborn babies: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Small-for-gestational newborn babies may have long-term metabolic consequences. Among the main hormones possibly involved in foetal growth regulation are the IGFs, IGFBPs and the recently described ghrelin.

Objective: To examine the levels of desacyl-ghrelin, IGF-1, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 in children Small-for-gestational age (SGA) and children adequate-for-gestational age (AGA).