Plasma vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and other regulatory peptides in children with neurogenic tumours.

Plasma regulatory peptide levels were studied in a group of 21 children with neurogenic tumours and in 22 control children. Plasma vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) levels were significantly higher in children with neurogenic tumours than in normal children or those with other tumours (p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in plasma levels of gastrin, pancreatic glucagon or pancreatic polypeptide. The plasma VIP level may thus be a helpful diagnostic marker for neurogenic tumours in children.