This study was designed to measure the levels of
chromogranin A (CgA),
ghrelin and
obestatin in serum and saliva (including CgA expression in healthy tissue) in epileptic patients to determine any significant differences between these patients and healthy controls. Samples were obtained from a total of 91 subjects: 10 newly-diagnosed primary
generalized epilepsy (
PGE) patients who had started treatment with
valproic acid and
phenytoin for seizure control; 18
PGE patients who were previously and currently receiving treatment with
valproic acid and
phenytoin for seizure control; 37 patients with
partial epilepsy (PE) (simple, n=17 or complex, n=20) who had been and were still being treated with carbazebime for
seizures; and 26 healthy controls. CgA immunoreactivity in healthy salivary gland was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. The levels of CgA, total
ghrelin and
obestatin in serum and saliva were measured by ELISA. The results revealed that normal salivary gland produces its own CgA. Before treatment, CgA levels in saliva and serum were significantly greater in patients newly-diagnosed with
PGE than controls.
Ghrelin and CgA concentrations were also greater in
PGE patients previously or currently treated with drugs, and in patients with simple or
complex partial epilepsy (PE) previously or currently treated with drugs, than in healthy normal controls. In conclusion, salivary concentrations of CgA,
ghrelin and
obestatin were similar to their serum levels, so saliva might be a desirable alternative to serum for measuring these
hormones because it is easy and painless to collect.