1 Department of Pediatrics, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
In Reply.
We agree with Weizman that quantification of enteric protein loss is best carried out by the use of51 Cr-albumin. Although this test has been used in adults and older children, there is no published study on the use of this method in neonates or low-birth-weight infants. The use of radioactive isotopes and the necessity of obtaining fecal samples without urinary contamination makes this an undesirable test in infants. Although the fecal clearance of
1-antitrypsin overcomes all the drawbacks of the 51Cr-albumin method, there are again no studies to date, on its use in neonates.