[Immunoreactive neurotensin in children with gastrointestinal diseases]

Neurotensin is a 13-amino acid hormonal peptide, localized to specific areas in both the brain and gastrointestinal tract of many mammalian species. It has been described as causing a wide variety of central and peripheral actions. At present there is almost no information concerning the possible physiological and pathophysiological significance of this peptide especially in childhood. Therefore we investigated plasma concentrations of neurotensin-like immunoreactivity in 113 healthy and 103 children suffering from various gastrointestinal diseases. The fasting levels (48.7 +/- 17.4 pg/ml) were slightly lower (p less than 0.05) than our postprandial concentrations (72.9 +/- 28.1 pg/ml) 2-3 hours after breakfast. There was no age distribution. Significantly elevated levels were found in CF-patients (185.4 +/- 96.1 pg/ml; p less than 0.0001) and three children with active coeliac disease (252.3 pg/ml), whereas patients with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and abdominal pain had normal values. Children after large bowel resection showed elevated plasma levels of neurotensin-like immunoreactivity (87.3 +/- 36.4 pg/ml), however, the differences were not significant.