title: Necrotizing enterocolitis after red blood cell transfusion in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus: a case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Both patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion are risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The combination of PDA and PRBC transfusion may have a synergistic effect on the intestinal circulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present four cases of NEC in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants within 14 h after PRBC transfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All infants were growing on full enteral feeding, and they all had a PDA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We are concerned that the simultaneous presence of a PDA and PRBC transfusion in VLBW infants may place the infant at even greater risk of NEC than each of these factors alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, Denmark. anna.sellmer@ki.au.dk
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sellmer
authors.forename: Lene Hjelle
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Tauris
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Tine Brink
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Henriksen
mesh_terms: D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000150:complications*; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male