TY - JOUR
T1 - C-reactive protein in the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis
AU - Pourcyrous, Massroor
AU - Korones, Sheldon B.
AU - Yang, Wenjian
AU - Boulden, Thomas F.
AU - Bada, Henrietta S.
PY - 2005/11
Y1 - 2005/11
N2 - Objective. In this prospective, observational study, we determined whether serum C-reactive protein (CRP) correlated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) stages II and III. We hypothesized that serial CRP measurement if used as an adjunct to abdominal radiographs would improve the identification of infants with NEC. Methods. Serum CRP level was measured every 12 hours for 3 measurements and, when abnormal, once daily. When clinical signs persisted and the initial abdominal radiographs were abnormal, follow-up radiographs were obtained. Results. Of 241 infants who were evaluated for gastrointestinal signs, 11 had ileus or benign pneumatosis intestinalis with persistently normal CRP; gastrointestinal manifestations resolved within 48 hours, antibiotics were discontinued in <48 hours, and feedings were restarted early without complications. Fifty-five infants had NEC stages II and III; all had abnormal CRP regardless of their blood culture results. In infants with stage II NEC, CRP returned to normal at a mean of 9 days except in those who developed complications such as stricture or abscess formation. Conclusions. In infants with suspected NEC, normal serial CRP values would favor aborted antibiotic therapy and early resumption of feedings. CRP becomes abnormal in both stage II and stage III NEC. In infants with NEC, persistently elevated CRP after initiation of appropriate medical management suggests associated complications, which may require surgical intervention.
AB - Objective. In this prospective, observational study, we determined whether serum C-reactive protein (CRP) correlated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) stages II and III. We hypothesized that serial CRP measurement if used as an adjunct to abdominal radiographs would improve the identification of infants with NEC. Methods. Serum CRP level was measured every 12 hours for 3 measurements and, when abnormal, once daily. When clinical signs persisted and the initial abdominal radiographs were abnormal, follow-up radiographs were obtained. Results. Of 241 infants who were evaluated for gastrointestinal signs, 11 had ileus or benign pneumatosis intestinalis with persistently normal CRP; gastrointestinal manifestations resolved within 48 hours, antibiotics were discontinued in <48 hours, and feedings were restarted early without complications. Fifty-five infants had NEC stages II and III; all had abnormal CRP regardless of their blood culture results. In infants with stage II NEC, CRP returned to normal at a mean of 9 days except in those who developed complications such as stricture or abscess formation. Conclusions. In infants with suspected NEC, normal serial CRP values would favor aborted antibiotic therapy and early resumption of feedings. CRP becomes abnormal in both stage II and stage III NEC. In infants with NEC, persistently elevated CRP after initiation of appropriate medical management suggests associated complications, which may require surgical intervention.
KW - C-reactive protein
KW - Necrotizing enterocolitis
KW - Newborn
KW - Premature
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33644665485&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1542/peds.2004-1806
DO - 10.1542/peds.2004-1806
M3 - Article
C2 - 16263990
AN - SCOPUS:33644665485
SN - 0031-4005
VL - 116
SP - 1064
EP - 1069
JO - Pediatrics
JF - Pediatrics
IS - 5
ER -