Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the cord blood ghrelin level in (SGA) infants with the level in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants, and determine its relationship to anthropometric measurements at delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty newborn infants (30 SGA newborns and 20 AGA infants) were included in the study and were subjected to complete clinical examinations, anthropometric measurement, and ghrelin assays. RESULTS: The cord blood ghrelin level in SGA infants was significantly higher than that in AGA infants. Cord ghrelin level correlated negatively with gestational age, weight, length, and body mass index in SGA group. CONCLUSION: Cord ghrelin concentration increased in SGA infants due to state of prolonged undernutrition the source of ghrelin unknown may be from the mother placenta or fetal tissues.