[Meconium proteins in small-for-gestational-age infants].

Considering that a greater concentration of proteins in the meconium of children with pancreatic achylia has been reported, the possibility was set forth that a similar finding was present in infants with intrauterine malnutrition; this probability was established on the basis that a dysfunction of the exocrine pancreas is present in postnatal malnutrition. The study comprised 37 samples of meconium from full-term infants; 27 of them from adequate weight newborns and the remaining 10, from low weight infants for their gestational age. The results showed a significant difference when the concentration of albumin and of alpha-1-antitrypsin registered for both groups was compared. In infants classed as malnourished because of their lower weight expected for their gestational age, both the albumin as the alpha-1-antitrypsin were found raised.