title: Treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis with probiotics.
abstract: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating condition characterized by diffuse intestinal inflammation and necrosis in preterm infants. It is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in the neonatal intensive care unit and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Primary risk factors include prematurity and low birth weight. Although the pathogenesis of NEC is complex and not entirely understood, it is known that an interplay between immature intestinal immune responses and the process of bacterial colonization is required for the development of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129-4404, USA. kganguli@partners.org
authors.forename: Kriston
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ganguli
authors.forename: W Allan
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000276:immunology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D019936:Probiotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*