Serum enzymes in the neonatal period. Diagnostic aid in muscle pathology.

Normal standards were defined in term and preterm infants on precise days of the neonatal period for the following serum enzymes: creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), diphosphofructoaldolase (ALD), glutamic-oxalacetic (SGOT) transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), CPK values have reached adult standards at 10 days of life. This permits early diagnosis of muscular dystropy, especially the Duchenne form. LDH and ALD are still high at the 10th day of life. Low SGOT and SGPT levels encountered in premature infants is probably due to immaturity of enzyme synthesis in this group of children.