Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
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J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. · May 2004
Plasma oxytocin in children with recurrent abdominal pain.
The main objective of this work was to study plasma oxytocin concentration of children with psychosomatic recurrent abdominal pain and children with organic abdominal disease producing pain. Another objective was to study plasma oxytocin in children with psychosomatic recurrent pain over time and its relationship to other associated symptoms such as somatic pains and appetite. ⋯ Plasma oxytocin level is low in patients with abdominal pain of psychosomatic origin and inflammatory bowel disease. Measurement of plasma oxytocin may be of some help in the differential diagnosis of recurrent abdominal pain, but does not differentiate between psychosomatic abdominal pain and pain associated with inflammatory bowel disease.