Total and acylated ghrelin plasma levels as potential long-term response markers in alcohol-dependent patients receiving high-dose of the GABA-B receptor agonist baclofen.

•Long term response to baclofen might be monitored by ghrelin assessments.•Total ghrelin correlated negatively with days of abstinence in the BACLAD study.•Total ghrelin plasma levels decreased in abstinent patients under baclofen.•Acylated ghrelin levels increased in relapsed patients under baclofen and under placebo.