title: Frequency of and risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis in infants born before 33 weeks of gestation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the frequency of and risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) among infants of <33 wk of gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective follow-up of 140 inpatients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  26 (18.6%) subjects developed NEC stage I-III and 12 (8.6%) severe NEC (stage II-III). Breast milk fortifier and duration of morphine infusion emerged as the statistically significant factors associated with NEC stage I-III, but only the latter had a significant association with severe NEC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future studies are needed to be established whether morphine is a causative factor in NEC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hällström
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Koivisto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janas
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tammela
mesh_terms: D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011006:Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D009020:Morphine