Neuron-specific enolase as a diagnostic marker of chronic gastroduodenitis in children

Abstract

Objective: to assess the nature of changes in the level of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in children suffering from chronic gastroduodenitis, depending on the severity of the disease, gender and physical development indicators.Materials and methods. The study group included 154 children aged 8–15 years with chronic gastroduodenitis. The main group includes children with superficial gastroduodenitis (group I) and erosive gastroduodenitis (group II). The control group consisted of 56 healthy children. All children underwent an assessment of physical development. The serum NSE level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It was revealed that the main parameters of the physical development of children from the control group exceeded the values of similar parameters of children of the main group. High NSE values were established in children with chronic gastroduodenitis in comparison with the control (p≤0.01). The NSE level in boys exceeded the value of the indicator in girls in the main group and in the control group. The level of NSE in girls of the main group exceeded the value of NSE in healthy girls (p≤0.05). Studying the level of NSE taking into account gender and the severity of the pathological process revealed higher rates in boys with erosive gastroduodenitis compared with the control group (p≤0.05). In the group of children with erosive gastroduodenitis, higher NSE rates were found in boys compared with girls (p<0.05).Conclusions: A high level of NSE in children with erosive gastroduodenitis and revealed gender differences in NSE concentrations in blood serum indicate the possible role of this indicator in the development of severe forms of the disease and do not exclude the possible association of the effects of this enzyme with the function of sex hormones. The quantitative values of NSE for predicting the development of chronic gastroduodenitis in children are established.