Gender differences in ghrelin, nociception genes, psychological factors and quality of life in functional dyspepsia

AIM to evaluate gender differences in the aspect of ghrelin,nociception-related genes and psychological aspects and the quality of life(Qo L) in Korean functional dyspepsia(FD) patients.METHODS Total of 191 persons were prospectively enrolled between March 2013 and May 2016 in Seoul National Bundang Hospital,and classified into control and FD group based on ROME Ⅲ criteria. Questionnaire included assessment for dyspepsia symptoms,Qo L and anxiety or depression. Preproghrelin and nociception genes in the gastric mucosa and plasma acyl/des-acyl ghrelin were measured. RESULTS Lower level of plasma acyl ghrelin in FD patients compared to control was significant only in male(15.9 fmol/m L vs 10.4 fmol/m L,P = 0.017). Significantly higher m RNA expressions of nerve growth factor and transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 were observed in male(P = 0.002 and P = 0.014,respectively) than in female. In contrast,female FD patients had a higher anxiety and depression score than male FD(P = 0.029),and anxiety score was correlated with epigastric pain only in female FD patients(female: Spearman rho = 0.420,P = 0.037). The impairment of overall Qo L was more prominent in female FD patients than male patients(5.4 ± 0.3 vs 6.5 ± 0.3,P = 0.020). CONCLUSION Gender differences of ghrelin and nociception-related genes in male and psychological factors in female underlie FD symptoms. More careful assessment of psychological or emotional status is required particularly for the female FD patients.