INVESTIGATION OF FECAL CALPROTECTIN CONCENTRATIONS AS A PREDICTOR OF NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS AND AN INDICATOR OF TREATMENT RESPONSE IN PRETERM INFANTS

Objective The aim of the study is to investigate fecal calprotectin concentrations as a predictor of necrotizing enterocolitis and an indicator of treatment response in preterm infants. Methods 101 preterm newborn gestational age less than 36 weeks who were given care in Trakya University Faculty of Medicine Pediatrics Department Newborn Unit were included in the study. Stool samples were taken from the infants’ diapers at 1st, 7th, 14th and 21th day of life. And in disease cases daily samples were collected in the 1st, 3rd and 7th day of disease. Results The fecal calprotectin levels in samples were as follows (mean±SD): meconium calprotectin 60±30 μg/gr, second sample calprotectin was 40±22 μg/gr, third sample calprotectin was 25±17 μg/gr, fourth sample calprotectin was 17±14 μg/gr. There was no increase in fecal calprotectin levels in NEC cases. Conclusion No correlation was found between fecal calprotectin levels and necrotizing enterocolitis. We conclude that fecal calprotectin levels can not be used as an indicator of treatment response in preterm infants.