any anomaly in the blood concentration of the peptide hormone produced mainly by P/D1 cells lining the fundus of the stomach and epsilon cells of the pancreas that stimulates hunger and serves as a potent stimulator of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland; in addition to stimulating appetite and growth, ghrelin also plays various roles in energy homeostasis, neuropathy, and in the cardiovascular and immune systems
abnormal circulating glucagon level +
abnormal circulating glucocorticoid level +
abnormal circulating gonadotropin level +
abnormal circulating insulin level +
abnormal circulating insulin-like growth factor I level +