title: Postnatal changes in blood S-adenosylmethionine concentration. Some observations in hyaline membrane disease.
abstract: The blood concentration of S-adenosylmethionine in 18 premature neonates affected by hyaline membrane disease did not differ from that found in a control group of healthy premature newborns. However, these values are higher than those found in full-term infants: this fact suggests that the methionine cycle is active in both the fetus and premature neonate with consequent conservation of homocysteine sulfur. These data provide ancillary evidence in support of the hypothesis that in premature babies cyst(e)ine is an essential amino acid. The concentration of S-adenosylmethionine reaches its lowest level 30 days after birth and then stabilizes at the age of 2--5 months with blood levels similar to those of the normal adult.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006819:Hyaline Membrane Disease / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine