1520 HEXOSAMINIDASE: A MARKER FOR NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS

Abstract

Hexosaminidase (HEX) activity in serum is used to diagnose Tay-Sach's and Sandhoff's Diseases, and has been suggested as a marker for diagnosis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). In this study, serum HEX activity was determined in 19 neonates with NEC. Ten infants, gestational age ≤34 weeks, had onset of NEC at 18.5±12 days (mean ± SD) and 20% mortality. Nine infants, gestational age ≥35 weeks had onset of NEC at 3±1 days and 22% mortality. Infants with NEC had lower serum HEX activity than controls. Because of possible association of NEC with perinatal asphyxia (PA) we examined the relationship among HEX, NEC and asphyxia. Serum HEX activity was lowest in infants of ≤34 weeks gestation with both NEC and PA. In contrast, infants ≥35 weeks gestation who had NEC but no PA had lower serum HEX activity than control infants or infants with PA and NEC. Earlier reports of increased serum HEX activity in infants with NEC did not consider normal developmental increases of enzyme activity with increasing gestational and postnatal age.