[Immunoreactive trypsin in the serum of normal children and children with gastrointestinal diseases].

Serum immunoreactive trypsin (IRT) was measured in cord blood and blood specimens of 156 healthy children of different age. These results were compared with the IRT of children with gastrointestinal disease. While IRT from newborn is significantly elevated, mean trypsin levels form older children do not differ from those found in adults. In acute pancreatitis too, as in renal failure, trypsin is elevated. Low trypsin values were estimated in acute hepatitis and Crohn's disease. In cystic fibrosis (CF) serum trypsin levels depend on the exocrine function of the pancreas. The IRT assay on dried blood-spots, seems to become a reliable and convenient neonatal screening test for CF in newborns.