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Blood eosinophilia predicts complication risk in preterm infants
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The persistence of elevated white blood cells, or blood eosinophilia, in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis served as an indicator of potential severe adverse events, according to research in Neonatology.
“Necrotizing enterocolitis is like Crohn’s disease for babies, but even worse since it is lethal and can be incredibly expensive to treat,” Michael P. Sherman, MD, FAAP, of the department of child health at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, said in a news release. “Now, we have found a way to identify the onset of necrotizing enterocolitis complications sooner, which can potentially reduce the level of the complications and costs.”
The researchers studied 50 preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis admitted to the neonatal ICU at the University of Missouri Children’s Hospital between 2008 and 2013. Study participants were divided into four groups: a variable group of infants with necrotizing enterocolitis and an elevated blood eosinophilia count (n = 15); a group with necrotizing enterocolitis and normal or low blood eosinophilia count (n = 25); a control group with no infection and normal blood eosinophilia count (n = 46); and a control group with no infection and elevated blood eosinophilia count (n = 4).
Data showed that infants in the first group had a Likert score of necrotizing enterocolitis severity that was three times greater than the second group (P = .001). Infants in group one also were eight times more likely to have adverse events such as hepatic fibrosis or intestinal strictures. The researchers said infants in group one were more likely to be born earlier and have lower birth weights compared with infants in the other groups.
“Health care professionals caring for infants who develop necrotizing enterocolitis should look for an early increase in blood eosinophils of at least 5% for 5 or more consecutive days,” Sherman and colleagues wrote. “If preterm infants have necrotizing enterocolitis and early persistent eosinophilia, caregivers should monitor these infants for the complications described [in this study].” – by David Costill
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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