Stool biomarkers may help predict necrotizing enterocolitis in preemies: Study

Their stools collected up to 10 days before diagnosis were included and matched with 14 non-necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) controls and tested by ELISA for the quantitation of eight biomarkers.

The results of the study are as follows:

· Biomarkers were evaluated in all available stool samples leading to the identification of lipocalin-2 and calprotectin as the two most reliable predicting markers over the 10-day period prior to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) development.

· Pooling the data for each infant confirmed the significance of lipocalin-2 and calprotectin, individually and in combination 1 week in advance of the NEC clinical diagnosis.

The researchers concluded that the lipocalin-2 and calprotectin tandem represent a significant biomarker signature for predicting NEC development. Although not yet fulfilling the "perfect biomarker" criteria, it represents the first step toward it.

Reference:

Lipocalin-2 and calprotectin as stool biomarkers for predicting necrotizing enterocolitis in premature neonates by Thibault M et. al published in the Pediatric Research.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-01680-7