Gut hormone concentrations in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis.
Blood levels of gastrin, neurotensin and vasoactive peptide (VIP) were estimated in 14 premature infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and in 12 controls. In comparison to the control group, infants with NEC had (a) significantly lower gastrin levels both before [9.3 (7.8) versus 33.7 (27.1)] and after [52.4 (48.1) versus 100.8 (50.9)] the development of NEC; (b) significantly lower neurotensin levels only after the development of NEC [37.8 (10.4) versus 54.5 (20.6)1; and (c) no significant difference in VIP values [25.4 (9.7) versus 18.9 (9.9) and 24.5 (15.7) versus 26.1 (19.1)]. It is concluded that NEC can adversely affect gastrin and neurotensin concentrations in the blood.
Gounaris
A
A
Neonatal Unit, Regional General Hospital of Piraeus, Nikea, Greece.
Alexiou
N
N
Costalos
C
C
Daniilidou
M
M
Frangou
E
E
Konstandellou
E
E
D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000097:blood*
D005755:Gastrins; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D009496:Neurotensin