Do children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy have lower IGF-1 and ghrelin levels than the normal children?

Objective: This study was designed to determine serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and plasma ghrelin levels in male children with adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy and compare them with healthy controls.

Methods: This study included 29 male prepubertal children between the ages of 6.5 and 10 years (mean age 8.8 +/- 2.5 years) with obstructive adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy and 20 normal male controls between the ages of 5.7 and 10.8 years (mean age 8.2 +/- 2.9 years). Plasma ghrelin and serum IGF-1 levels were measured at 8.30, in the morning.

Results: Children with adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy had significantly depressed serum IGF-1 levels (203 +/- 150 ng ml(-1)) and plasma ghrelin levels (175 +/- 66 pg ml(-1)) compared with healthy controls (354 +/- 242 ng ml(-1) and 243 +/- 93 pg ml(-1), respectively, P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Depressed levels of ghrelin in children with adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy lead to decreased appetite and insufficient energy intake. Lower serum levels of IGF-1 in children with adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy may be secondary to deficient growth hormone stimulation by ghrelin.