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Heterogeneity of pepsinogens in the urine of children
J Nevoral1, H Tomásová, J Srajer
1First Pediatric Clinic, Faculty of Pediatrics, Charles University, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Insights
Urinary pepsinogen (PG) activity shows linear relationships with chlorides, creatinine, and osmolality in infants. The Pg7 fraction of PG II decreases over time, especially in full-term infants, indicating developmental changes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Pepsinogen (PG) is a precursor to pepsin, crucial for digestion.
- Urinary PG levels can reflect various physiological and pathological conditions.
- Understanding PG dynamics in infants is important for assessing kidney and digestive development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between urinary pepsinogen activity and other urinary parameters in infants.
- To analyze the presence and changes of the Pg7 fraction of pepsinogen II in infant urine over time.
- To explore potential correlations between urinary PG and disease states in children.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of linear relationships between urinary pepsinogen activity, chloride concentration, creatinine concentration, and urine osmolality.
- Detection and quantification of pepsinogen fractions, specifically the Pg7 fraction of PG II, in urine samples.
- Longitudinal observation of urinary PG profiles in full-term and premature infants.
- Examination of urinary pepsinogen spectrum in children with various diseases.
Main Results:
- A significant linear relationship was established between urinary chlorides and pepsinogen activity in infants aged 3 days to 6 weeks.
- By 4-6 weeks of age, significant correlations emerged between urinary pepsinogen activity and both urinary creatinine and urine osmolality.
- The Pg7 fraction of PG II was present in all infants immediately after birth, decreasing to 11% by 4-6 weeks in full-term infants.
- Premature infants showed a slower disappearance of the Pg7 fraction.
- The Pg7 fraction was transiently detected in a girl with lymphoma.
Conclusions:
- Urinary pepsinogen activity exhibits distinct developmental correlations with urinary composition in infants.
- The decline of the Pg7 fraction correlates with the establishment of mature urinary parameter relationships.
- Urinary pepsinogen analysis, including specific fractions, may offer insights into infant development and certain pediatric diseases.
Abstract:
The existence of a significant linear relationship between the concentration of chlorides and the activity of pepsinogen (PG) in the urine was ascertained in the case of full-term infants 3 days to 6 weeks of age. At the age of 4-6 weeks, a significant relationship was found between the urinary pepsinogen activity and the urinary creatinine concentration, and between the urinary pepsinogen activity in the urine and the urine osmolality. Immediately after birth, the Pg7 fraction of PG II in the urine was found in all cases and, at the age of 4-6 weeks, in 11% of cases. In regard to the time factor, the conspicuous drop in the occurrence of the Pg7 fraction corresponds to the new qualitative relationship between the pepsinogen activity in the urine and the creatinine concentration in the urine and between the former and the urine osmolality. In premature infants, the Pg7 fraction disappears more slowly. The spectrum of pepsinogens in the urine was examined in children suffering from various diseases. In a girl with lymphoma, we found the Pg7 fraction, but this finding was temporary only.