PLASMA SOMATOSTATIN AND CHOLECYSTOKININ LEVELS IN SICK PRETERM INFANTS DURING THEIR FIRST 6 WEEKS OF LIFE

The present study reports the levels of plasma somatostatin and cholec ystokinin in 19 preterm infants with asphyxia [n = 10, GA (median; ran ge) 26; 23-30 weeks] and respiratory distress syndrome (n = 14, GA 27; 23-29 weeks) compared with preterm infants without any of these condi tions (reference group, n = 59, GA 33; 25-36 weeks). In the reference group 37 infants received phototherapy and their peptide levels were c ompared with those not receiving phototherapy (n = 22). Plasma somatos tatin and cholecystokinin were analysed by specific radioimmunoassays on day 1, day 3-4 and at 6 weeks of life. Plasma somatostatin levels, but not cholecystokinin levels, of reference infants were inversely re lated to gestational age on day 1 and day 3-4. Asphyxiated infants and infants with respiratory distress syndrome had significantly higher s omatostatin levels than reference infants on day 1 and day 3-4. These differences disappeared when the levels were adjusted for gestational age. Plasma cholecystokinin levels were not influenced by respiratory distress syndrome and asphyxia. Phototherapy did not affect plasma som atostatin and cholecystokinin levels.