Plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (IFABP) is found within cells at the tip of the intestinal villi, an area commonly injured when necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) occurs. This study was undertaken to determine if measuring IFABP concentrations in the bloodstream early in the course of NEC would differentiate patients by severity before clinical findings made it clear who had stage 3 NEC and who had milder stages.


METHODS
Three plasma samples from newborn infants evaluated for NEC were obtained at symptom onset and after 8 and 24 hours. IFABP concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay. Infants were classified by the final and most severe stage of NEC, and IFABP levels were compared between groups at each sampling.


RESULTS
IFABP was detectable in blood samples from all 7 infants with stage 3 NEC compared with 3 of 24 with stages 1 or 2 NEC. Elevated plasma IFABP concentrations were detectable before clinical staging could be made in 5 of the 7 subjects with stage 3 NEC.


CONCLUSIONS
IFABP may be a specific marker for early identification of severe NEC.
Edelson
M B
MB
Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA.
Sonnino
R E
RE
Bagwell
C E
CE
Lieberman
J M
JM
Marks
W H
WH
Rozycki
H J
HJ
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000097:blood*; D000071438:Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism*; D018996:Myelin P2 Protein / Q000097:blood*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C107608:FABP7 protein, human; D000071438:Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D018996:Myelin P2 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins