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Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) concentration in plasma is not affected in functional abdominal pain in children

M Uścinowicz1, M Kaczmarski

  • 1III Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Białystok, Poland. mirusc@o2.pl

Roczniki Akademii Medycznej W Bialymstoku (1995)
|December 20, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Plasma cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) levels do not appear to be a reliable diagnostic marker for functional abdominal pain (FAP) in children, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia (FD). Further research is needed to understand FAP in pediatric populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Gastrointestinal Physiology
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Cholecystokinin (CCK) plays a crucial role in regulating gastrointestinal motility and visceral sensation.
  • Functional abdominal pain (FAP) is a common condition in children, characterized by recurrent abdominal pain without an identifiable organic cause.
  • Understanding the physiological underpinnings of FAP is essential for developing effective diagnostic tools and treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the diagnostic value of plasma cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) concentration in children diagnosed with functional abdominal pain (FAP).
  • To compare CCK-8 levels in children with different subtypes of FAP (functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, non-specific FAP) and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 52 children (aged 6-17) with chronic abdominal pain, categorized into functional dyspepsia (FD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and non-specific FAP groups.
  • Plasma CCK-8 concentrations were measured using radioimmunoassay in a fasting state and at 15, 30, and 60 minutes after a standard test meal.
  • A control group of children without a history of abdominal pain was included for comparison.

Main Results:

  • Fasting plasma CCK-8 levels were comparable across all patient groups and the control group.
  • Postprandial CCK-8 levels increased significantly in functional dyspepsia, non-specific FAP, and control groups, but not in the irritable bowel syndrome group.
  • The area under the curve for CCK-8 plasma concentration was lowest in the IBS group, though not statistically significant compared to other groups.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma CCK-8 levels, both fasting and postprandial, do not appear to be significantly altered in children with functional abdominal pain, including IBS and FD.
  • The findings suggest that alterations in plasma CCK-8 are unlikely to be the primary cause of gut dysmotility or symptoms associated with FAP in pediatric populations.
  • CCK-8 is not a reliable diagnostic biomarker for FAP in children based on this study.
Abstract

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