PLASMA SECRETIN IN NEONATES

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Abstract
Plasma secretin [S] was measured in 96 normal 6-day old term infants and in 158 healthy preterm infants whose mean post-partum ages were 2 1/2, 6, 13 or 24-days. At birth, plasma S levels in both term and preterm infants were high compared with those seen in healthy fasting adults (P < 0.001), but subsequently declined towards adult values. In contrast, preterm infants who were fed for the 1st 6 days of life, had persistently high basal plasma S values. In term infants at 6 days of age and in preterm infants up to 13 days, there was no S response to a feed. By 24 days, preterm infants showed a marked postprandial S elevation (P < 0.02). No correlations were found between plasma S concentrations and either blood glucose insulin concentrations following a feed. Significant adjustment in plasma S levels occur in the early weeks of life which may be influenced by enteral feeding.