The Level of Peptide YY in Blood Serum of Children With ChronicConstipation: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background. The gastrointestinal polypeptide YY has an inhibitory effect on the colon motility, which can provoke constipation. The role of this peptide in the development of chronic constipation in children remains uninvestigated. Objective. Our aim was to determine the serum concentration of peptide YY in children with chronic constipation. Methods. A cross-sectional study included children aged 4-14 years with chronic constipation, who have been observed in the gastroenterology unit of the paediatric clinical hospital from March 2014 to September 2015. The control group was formed from healthy children. The diagnosis of chronic constipation was established based on the Rome criteria (2016). The blood serum level of peptide YY was determined by enzyme immunoassay after collecting serum samples from all study participants. Results. The study included 47 patients with chronic constipation (boys 62%; median age-8 years) and 20 healthy children (boys 50%; median age-7.5 years, compared with the main group p = 0.445). It has been found that children with chronic constipation had a lower blood serum concentration of peptide YY than healthy children: the median (25th; 75th percentile) was 0.68 (0.24; 1.43) and 2.34 (1.41; 3.35) ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.001). The level of peptide YY in the group of children with chronic constipation was not related to gender, age; the presence of colonoptosis, colonic/enteric reflux; the duration of chronic constipation, as well as to the occurrence of complications such as encopresis and colitis. Conclusion. Low blood serum levels of peptide YY were detected in children with chronic constipation.