小児期における血清procollagen III peptide測定の臨床的意義について

抄録

The cord serum concentration of N-terminal procollagen III peptide (PIIIP) was measured in 149 neonates, consisting of 22 who were small for gestational age (SGA), 95 appropriate for gestational age (AGA), 21 large for gestational age (LGA), and 11 of less than 24 weeks' gestation. A significant negative correlation was found between PIIIP levels and gestational age. No significant difference, however, was found in PIIIP levels between SGA and LGA neonates, suggesting that cord serum PIIIP level can be a useful parameter in assessing newborn maturity.
Serum PIIIP levels were also determined longitudinally during treatment in children with Graves' disease or chronic thyroiditis. Individual changes in serum PIIIP varied with thyroid status. Administration of T₃ for seven days for the T₃ suppression test to six euthyroid patients treated with antithyroid drugs resulted in a 25-75% increase above basal values in serum PIII P. In contrast, the same treatment given to three patients with generalized thyroid hormone resistance produced small rises in serum PIIIP levels of 9.5%, 10.5%, and 10.1%, respectively. Therefore, measurement of serum PIIIP before and after T3 therapy seems to be useful for the diagnosis of thyroid hormone resistance.
In addition, longitudinal observations of serum PIIIP levels in 3 girls with anorexia nervosa showed that the levels were very closely correlated with changes in their body weight.
These findings, which were based on repeated determinations of serum PIIIP levels, indicate peripheral action of thyroid hormone and nutritional status.
Thus, the measurement of serum PIIIP concentration can provide useful information with which to assess hormone action and metabolism in the fetus and in children.