Characteristics of fecal calprotectin as an early marker for suspected necrotizing enterocolitis in newborns exclusively fed maternal breast milk: a case-control study

• Published in: Proceedings - Baylor University. Medical Center Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 43 - 47
• Main Authors: Farghaly, Mohsen A A, Ali, Mahmoud A M, Ramey, Stacey, Said, Wafaa, Abdelkarem, Abeer, Collin, Marc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Ltd 2024; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Breastfeeding & lactation; Feces; Gastrointestinal diseases; Necrosis; Original Research: Gastroenterology; preterm; necrotizing enterocolitis; calprotectin; neonatal intensive care unit; Breast milk
• ISSN: 0899-8280; 1525-3252
• DOI: 10.1080/08998280.2023.2277580

Numerous studies have proposed using fecal calprotectin among many biomarkers associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate fecal calprotectin as an early marker for suspected NEC (stage 1) in infants fed exclusively breast milk. We collected 20 stool samples from newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Aswan University Hospital diagnosed with stage I NEC. We compared them with 20 samples from matched healthy newborns. Fecal calprotectin level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fecal calprotectin level was higher in cases than in the control group (  < 0.001). Also, there was a positive correlation between fecal calprotectin and C-reactive protein in the studied cases (  = 0.001). However, there were no correlations between fecal calprotectin and sex or postnatal age. Fecal calprotectin levels increase in newborns with stage I NEC. Although not specific, its sensitivity suggests a role as a potential biomarker in the evaluation of suspected NEC.