Fecal elastase activity in premature children

Abstract

We studied the activity of fecal elastase in 54 premature newborns of a gestation period of 22–32 weeks. The samples of feces were collected at the age of 13–14 days. Premature children born at gestational age of 22–28 weeks had pancreatic insufficiency of light degree by 2 weeks of age, preterm infants with a gestational age of 28–32 weeks by 2 weeks of age had the values of pancreatic elastase equal to that of full-term children. The authors have established the relationship between the degree of pancreatic insufficiency and the gestational age of newborns. Fecal elastase activity was significantly lower in premature infants who received milk mixtures as compared to breast-fed infants or infants with mixed feeding. The study substantiated the necessity of early replacement therapy in such newborns to prevent exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.