CIRCULATING OXYNTOMODULIN-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN HEALTHY-CHILDREN AND CHILDREN WITH CELIAC-DISEASE

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the new hormonal enti ty oxyntomodulin-like immunoreactivity in malabsorption states, and to assess its potential in celiac disease management. Methods: We measur ed basal and postprandial oxyntomodulin-like immunoreactivity values i n 35 children divided into 3 groups: group 1 was composed of 13 childr en with celiac disease, either under a gluten-free diet (8 patients) o r normal diet (5 patients); group 2 was composed of 8 children hospita lized for gastroenteritis or chronic diarrhea, without biological evid ence of malabsorption nor abnormal jejunal mucosa; group 3 was compose d of 22 control subjects. Results: Fasting and meal-stimulated levels in the control group were 71 +/- 10 and 130 +/- 26 pmol/l, respectivel y. Mean concentrations were elevated in patients with celiac disease ( basal = 349 +/- 254 pmol/l, postprandial = 446 +/- 332 pmol/l) and in the group 2 (basal = 139 +/- 58 pmol/l, postprandial = 218 +/- 85 pmol /l), but the difference with control subjects did not reach statistica l significance. In children with celiac disease, basal and stimulated values correlated with the degree of malabsorption as assessed by hemo globin (p = 0.006 and p = 0.01, respectively) and serum folate concent rations (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions: Oxyntomodu lin-like immunoreactivity is noticeably higher in healthy children tha n previously measured in healthy adult subjects. This hormonal paramet er is not an adequate diagnostic tool in celiac disease. Nevertheless, in the context of celiac disease, its elevation reflects the degree o f malabsorption and may provide a quantitative approach of the extent of mucosal damage.