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[Interest in pediatrics in the value of trypsin by the radioimmunologic method]
Insights
Plasma trypsin measurement using radioimmunoassay offers valuable insights into pediatric pancreatic function. This method can help diagnose conditions like cystic fibrosis and diabetes in children.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
Context:
- Plasma trypsin levels exhibit age-dependent variations, being significantly higher in newborns than in older children and adults.
- Established reference ranges for plasma trypsin in children aged 15 days to 18 years show negligible variation.
- Normal plasma trypsin levels were observed in children with mumps, even with elevated amylase, suggesting limited pancreatic involvement.
Purpose:
- To investigate the clinical utility of plasma trypsin determination via radioimmunoassay in pediatric patients.
- To establish age-specific reference ranges for plasma trypsin in children.
- To evaluate the diagnostic potential of plasma trypsin levels in specific pediatric conditions.
Summary:
- Plasma trypsin levels are significantly elevated in newborns (1-7 days) but stabilize to adult levels thereafter.
- In cystic fibrosis, plasma trypsin was undetectable or very low in 13 out of 15 cases.
- A significant proportion (18 of 29) of diabetic children exhibited undetectable plasma trypsin levels.
Impact:
- Plasma trypsin determination by radioimmunoassay is a promising tool for assessing pancreatic function in children.
- This assay may aid in the early detection and management of pancreatic exocrine dysfunction in pediatric diseases.
- The findings support the use of plasma trypsin as a non-invasive biomarker for pediatric pancreatic health.
Abstract:
The clinical value of plasma trypsin determination by radioimmunoassay has been investigated in children. In newborns (1-7 days), plasma trypsin levels are significantly higher than in older children, whose values do not differ from the adults' age. Variation between 15 days and 18 years is negligible. In ten cases of mumps without pancreatic symptomatology, results are within the normal range, even when amylase levels are high. In cystic fibrosis plasma trypsin has been found undetectable or very low in 13, normal in 2 and high in 1 of 15 cases. Plasma trypsin levels have also been found undetectable in 18 of 29 diabetic children, some of whom had been diagnosed for less than a year. We conclude that plasma trypsin determination by radioimmunoassay is of interest in pancreatic function testing of children.