title: Fecal calprotectin levels are increased in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the value of fecal calprotectin in diagnosis and predicting severity of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective controlled study was conducted including preterm infants with stage 2 to 3 NEC, and birth weight and gestational age-matched controls. Fecal samples were obtained both at the time of NEC diagnosis and 3-5 days later from the patients, and at similar postnatal age from controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five infants with stage 2 to 3 NEC and 25 controls were enrolled. Median fecal calprotectin concentrations were 1,282 and 365 µg/g at diagnosis in infants with NEC and controls, respectively. Fecal calprotectin levels of infants with NEC were significantly higher than those of the control group both in the first and second samples. Although the fecal calprotectin levels gradually decreased from the time of diagnosis to the second sampling time in stage 2 NEC, in stage 3 NEC fecal calprotectin concentrations increased to a higher level. A fecal calprotectin value of 792 µg/g was found to be 76% sensitive and 92% specific for the diagnosis of definite NEC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fecal calprotectin increases in infants with NEC and serial measurements may be useful as a noninvasive prognostic marker for progression of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity and Teaching Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. drozgegenc@yahoo.com.tr
authors.forename: Ozge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aydemir
authors.forename: Cumhur
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aydemir
authors.forename: Yusuf Unal
authors.initials: YU
authors.lastname: Sarikabadayi
authors.forename: Fuat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Emre Canpolat
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erdeve
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Biyikli
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dilmen
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex