1052 Fgf-21 in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Abstract

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) is an atypical member of the FGF family. It act as an endocrine hormone which affects energy balance. In humans FGF-21 was correlated with obesity. The relationship of FGF-21 and starvation in the course of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is unknown. Therefore the FGF-21 concentrations in children with IBD (n=22) and obese children (n=17) were investigated. Subjects were in similar age (14±3 ys.). The mean BMI of obese children were 30±6 kg/m2 whereas in IBD group 16±2,2 kg/m2. The FGF-21 in IBD children were measured triple - in acute stage of the disease, during the treatment and in the remission. FGF-21 concentrations were determined in fasting serum samples using RIA. The highest FGF-21 concentrations (mean 0,7±0,16 ng/ml) were noted in acute stage of IBD. The results in samples taken during the treatment and in remission were similar (0,53±0,17 ng/ml, 0,48±0,09 ng/ml, respectively; p< 0,05 as compare to results determined in acute stage of disease). The mean concentration of FGF- 21 in obese subject was 0,58±0,12 ng/ml; and this value also was significantly lower than observed in acute stage of IBD. The serum levels of FGF-21 in obese group and IBD children during remission correlate with BMI (r=50; p< 0,05). These results suggest that FGF-21 concentration reflect the imbalance in energy intake/expenditure, however the inflammation in IBD increase serum levels of this parameter. Therefore usefulness of FGF-21 as a marker of energy balance in acute stage of IBD and probably in other inflammatory disorders is limited.