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The development of the chymotryptic activity during postnatal life using the bentiromide test
Y Bujanover1, A Harel, R Geter
1Department of Pediatrics, Rokach Hospital Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv Univerisity, Israel.
Summary
Newborns show low chymotryptic activity, similar to cystic fibrosis patients, but it gradually increases with age. This pancreatic enzyme activity approaches older children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Neonatal Physiology
- Enzyme Kinetics
Background:
- Chymotrypsin is a key pancreatic enzyme crucial for protein digestion.
- Assessing pancreatic function in newborns is vital for early diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders.
- Limited data exists on the developmental trajectory of chymotryptic activity in early infancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the development of chymotryptic activity in healthy newborns and infants.
- To compare chymotryptic activity in newborns with cystic fibrosis patients and healthy children.
Main Methods:
- The N-benzoyl-L-tyrosine-p-nitroanilide (NBT-PABA) test was employed to measure chymotryptic activity.
- Study included 40 newborns and infants aged 3-180 days.
- Serial assessments were conducted on nine newborns; comparisons were made with 18 cystic fibrosis patients and 17 healthy children.
Main Results:
- Chymotryptic activity demonstrated a progressive increase with infant age, reaching levels comparable to older children by 180 days.
- Newborns exhibited low initial chymotryptic activity, similar to that observed in cystic fibrosis patients.
- Serial studies revealed individual variations in the rate of chymotrypsin activity increase.
Conclusions:
- Infant chymotryptic activity undergoes significant development in the first six months of life.
- Low chymotryptic activity in early infancy may mimic pancreatic insufficiency.
- The NBT-PABA test is a useful tool for assessing pancreatic exocrine function in neonates and infants.