Exploring the roles of ghrelin and nesfatin-1 as potential biomarkers in human epilepsy: a systematic review.
- 1Department of Developmental Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
- 2Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
- 3Chair and Clinic of Prosthodontics and Gerostomatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
Abstract
Purpose
Epilepsy affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, with approximately 30% of patients exhibiting pharmacoresistance. Identifying reliable biomarkers for diagnosis, predicting treatment response, and monitoring disease progression is essential for improving epilepsy management. Neuropeptides such as ghrelin and nesfatin-1 have emerged as potential candidates owing to their roles in neuroprotection and metabolic regulation.Views
We systematically reviewed studies on ghrelin and nesfatin-1 in human epilepsy by searching PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria comprised original research reporting neuropeptide levels in patients with epilepsy. Data extraction and study selection followed PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024567659). Thirty-two studies published between 2005 and 2025 were included (27 on ghrelin and five on nesfatin-1). Ghrelin levels showed heterogeneous patterns - 37.1% of studies reported decreases, 29.6% reported increases, and 33.3% reported no change in epilepsy patients. Higher ghrelin levels were observed in focal epilepsy and in patients responding to anti-seizure medications (ASMs). Nesfatin-1 was elevated in 80% of studies, particularly in untreated or active epilepsy, but decreased in drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy and after long-term treatment. Evidence suggests that nesfatin-1 correlates with seizure burden and prognosis. Both neuropeptides show potential as biomarkers of disease severity and treatment response.Conclusions
Ghrelin and nesfatin-1 exhibit dynamic changes in relation to the type of epilepsy, seizure activity, and treatment. These neuropeptides may serve as non-invasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets, with near-term clinical potential for monitoring adverse side effects of ASM, differentiating between seizure types, and predicting drug resistance. However, validation studies are needed to establish clinical utility before routine implementation.
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BibTeX
@article{yetkin2026exploring,
title = {{Exploring the roles of ghrelin and nesfatin-1 as potential biomarkers in human epilepsy: a systematic review.}},
author = {Ozgun Yetkin and Anna Sojka and Yasmin Bartosik and Barbara Steinborn and Barbara Dorocka-Bobkowska and Marcin Zarowski},
journal = {Postepy psychiatrii neurologii},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.5114/ppn.2026.164128},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898628},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exploring the roles of ghrelin and nesfatin-1 as potential biomarkers in human epilepsy: a systematic review.
AU - Ozgun Yetkin
AU - Anna Sojka
AU - Yasmin Bartosik
AU - Barbara Steinborn
AU - Barbara Dorocka-Bobkowska
AU - Marcin Zarowski
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/31
JO - Postepy psychiatrii neurologii
DO - 10.5114/ppn.2026.164128
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898628
AB - Purpose Epilepsy affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, with approximately 30% of patients exhibiting pharmacoresistance. Identifying reliable biomarkers for diagnosis, predicting treatment response, and monitoring disease progression is essential for improving epilepsy management. Neuropeptides such as ghrelin and nesfatin-1 have emerged as potential candidates owing to their roles in neuroprotection and metabolic regulation.Views We systematically reviewed studies on ghrelin and nesfatin-1 in human epilepsy by searching PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria comprised original research reporting neuropeptide levels in patients with epilepsy. Data extraction and study selection followed PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024567659). Thirty-two studies published between 2005 and 2025 were included (27 on ghrelin and five on nesfatin-1). Ghrelin levels showed heterogeneous patterns - 37.1% of studies reported decreases, 29.6% reported increases, and 33.3% reported no change in epilepsy patients. Higher ghrelin levels were observed in focal epilepsy and in patients responding to anti-seizure medications (ASMs). Nesfatin-1 was elevated in 80% of studies, particularly in untreated or active epilepsy, but decreased in drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy and after long-term treatment. Evidence suggests that nesfatin-1 correlates with seizure burden and prognosis. Both neuropeptides show potential as biomarkers of disease severity and treatment response.Conclusions Ghrelin and nesfatin-1 exhibit dynamic changes in relation to the type of epilepsy, seizure activity, and treatment. These neuropeptides may serve as non-invasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets, with near-term clinical potential for monitoring adverse side effects of ASM, differentiating between seizure types, and predicting drug resistance. However, validation studies are needed to establish clinical utility before routine implementation.
SN - 1230-2813
SN - 2720-5371
ER -