ArticleBMC pediatrics2024
Values of serum intestinal fatty acid-binding protein, fecal calprotectin, and fecal human β-defensin 2 for predicting necrotizing enterocolitis.
Article in BMC pediatrics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- The value of intestinal fatty acid binding protein as a biomarker for the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants: a meta-analysis.BMC pediatrics · 2025Pooled it
- Enteral iron dose effect on iron storage, intestinal barrier, and gut microbiome in preterm infants: a randomized clinical trial.The American journal of clinical nutrition · 2026Trial
- Multiomics analyses revealed the roles of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and novel early candidate diagnostic biomarkers in neonatal necrotising enterocolitis.Clinical and translational medicine · 2026Article
- When It Is Not NEC: Recognizing Mimics of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Biomarkers for Necrotising Enterocolitis-Are We There Yet?Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Predictive and Prognostic Biomarkers in Pediatric Intussusception-A Systematic Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Article
- Fatty acid-binding protein 2 in inflammatory bowel disease: mechanistic insights and translational perspectives.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Review
- Associations of hereditary angioedema attacks with intestinal permeability and inflammatory cytokines.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Article
- Intestinal Biomarkers in Preterm Infants: Influence of Mother's Own Milk on Fecal Calprotectin and of Gestational Age on IFABP Concentrations.Nutrients · 2025Article
- Predictive value of biomarkers in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2025Review
- Necrotising enterocolitis biomarkers: a systematic review.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2025Review
- I-FABP protein/mRNA and IL-6 as biomarkers of intestinal barrier dysfunction in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis and SPF BALB/c mouse models.The Journal of international medical research · 2024Article
- Advancing necrotizing enterocolitis prediction through iterative monitoring.Translational pediatrics · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThis study aimed to assess the diagnostic potential of serum intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP), fecal calprotectin (FC), and fecal human β-defensin 2 (hBD2) in predicting necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants.
methodsA prospective cohort of neonates with a gestational age < 32 weeks, suspected of NEC, was enrolled between June 2021 and December 2022. Serum I-FABP, FC, and fecal hBD2 levels were measured upon NEC suspicion, and diagnosis was confirmed through radiological examination or surgical intervention. Diagnostic precision of serum I-FABP, FC, and fecal hBD2 was assessed using a logistic regression model with multiple variables.
resultsThe study included 70 neonates (45 males, 25 females), with 30 developing NEC (40% Stage III, n = 12; 60% Stage II, n = 18) and 40 in the control group. NEC patients exhibited significantly higher serum I-FABP and FC levels (4.76 ng/mL and 521.56 µg/g feces, respectively) than those with other diagnoses (1.38 ng/mL and 213.34 µg/g feces, respectively; p ˂ 0.05 for both biomarkers). Stage II NEC neonates showed elevated fecal hBD2 levels (376.44 ng/g feces) than Stage III NEC neonates and controls (336.87 ng/g and 339.86 ng/g feces, respectively; p ˂ 0.05). No such increase was observed in infants progressing to Stage III NEC. Using a serum I-FABP threshold of > 2.54 ng/mL yielded 76.7% sensitivity, 87.5% specificity, 82.1% positive predictive value (PPV), and 83.3% negative predictive value (NPV). For FC (cutoff > 428.99 µg/g feces), corresponding values were 76.7% sensitivity, 67.5% specificity, 63.9% PPV, and 79.4% NPV.
conclusionSerum I-FABP and FC levels are valuable for early NEC detection and provide insights into disease severity. Low fecal hBD2 levels suggest an inadequate response to luminal bacteria, potentially rendering these infants more susceptible to NEC development or exacerbation.
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