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Platelet-activating factor in infants at risk for necrotizing enterocolitis.
S S Rabinowitz1, P Dzakpasu, S Piecuch
1Children's Medical Center of Brooklyn, the Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, State University of New York - Health Science Center at Brooklyn, USA.
The Journal of Pediatrics
|January 10, 2001
Summary
Platelet-activating factor (PAF) levels, measured as PAF-lipids (PAF-LL), can help diagnose necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in infants. Elevated PAF-LL indicates NEC severity and can predict its development.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
Background:
- Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipid linked to perinatal diseases like necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
- Understanding PAF's role in NEC is crucial for early diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between PAF-lipid (PAF-LL) levels and the incidence and severity of NEC in at-risk infants.
- To assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of PAF-LL measurements in NEC.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 164 infants at risk for NEC across three neonatal intensive care units.
- Baseline PAF-LL levels were measured, with serial measurements taken for infants who developed NEC.
Main Results:
- Infants with stage II and III NEC showed significantly elevated peak PAF-LL (mean 13.6 ng/mL) compared to those without NEC (mean 2.03 ng/mL).
- PAF-LL levels correlated with NEC severity, increasing with disease progression and decreasing with resolution.
- A PAF-LL cutoff of 10.2 ng/mL demonstrated 100% positive predictive value for NEC.
Conclusions:
- PAF-LL measurements can serve as a valuable adjunct to clinical and radiographic assessments for NEC diagnosis.
- PAF-LL may play a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of necrotizing enterocolitis.