[Necrotizing enterocolitis and apnoeas-bradycardias of the preterm newborn].
We conducted a case control study during six and a half years with the objective to analyse the risk factors for NEC.


METHODS
All cases of confirmed NEC matched to controls for identical gestational age and period of hospitalization; apnoeas-bradycardias prospectively counted.


RESULTS
Forty-five cases were compared to 89 controls. The isolated risk factors were: an intra-uterine growth retardation (OR = 3,65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 95%: 1,54-8,63); a birth weight < 1000 g (OR = 8,16, CI 95%: 1,17-56,62), compared to a weight >/= 1500 g; a triple antibiotherapy (OR = 6,15, CI 95%: 1,16-32,45); an umbilical venous catheterization (OR = 2,64, CI 95%: 1,09-6,44); a number of simple apnoeas-bradycardias >/= 3rd tercile (n = 27) (OR = 4,54, CI 95%: 1,29-15,93), or severe (stimulated or with hypoxia) apnoeas-bradycardias >/= 3rd tercile (n = 8) (OR = 6,15, CI 95%: 1,59-23,75); an haemoglobin level lower than the 1(st) tercile (95 g/L) (OR = 5,90, CI 95%: 1,20-20,13); and milk thickening by Gumilk (OR = 2,78, CI 95%: 1,11-6,90).


CONCLUSIONS
In the present practices, anoxo-ischemic factors during the first week of life do not represent an important risk of NEC; a great vigilance must be exercised for indications of the triple antibiotherapy and the treatment of apnoeas-bradycardias.
Blond
M H
MH
Service de médecine néonatale, centre de pédiatrie Gatien-de-Clocheville, centre hospitalier universitaire de Tours, 37044 Tours cedex 1, France. mh.blond@chu-tours.de
Chavet
M S
MS
Lecuyer
A I
AI
Ajam
E
E
Henrot
A
A
Gold
F
F
Laugier
J
J
Saliba
E
E
Letenneur
L
L
D001049:Apnea / Q000150:complications*; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors