Rusu CC, et al. - In this cross-sectional study, researchers determined the metabolic factors that have an impact on endogenous ghrelin/acyl ghrelin levels in hemodialysis patients. They also studied the association between endogenous ghrelin/acyl ghrelin levels and cardiac and vascular function markers in these patients. The strongest predictor of ghrelin levels, identified in this study, was the inflammatory marker IL-1β. In HD patients, acyl ghrelin levels were most strongly predicted by total cholesterol. Findings revealed an association of high endogenous ghrelin level with high IL-1β and with vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction. Male HD patients showed an association of low acyl ghrelin level with high NT-proBNP (a cardiac dysfunction marker). Endogenous ghrelin level and inflammatory markers showed a direct correlation, which was not associated with cardiovascular protection.