Association Between Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Preterm Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Hematology

Background:

• Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal condition in premature infants, often leading to mortality.
• Early diagnosis of NEC is challenging due to a lack of sensitive laboratory markers.
• Identifying reliable biomarkers is crucial for timely intervention in very-low-birth-weight infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the incidence of NEC in preterm neonates.
• To determine if PLR can serve as an early diagnostic indicator for NEC in premature infants.
• To explore the predictive value of PLR for NEC development.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case-control study was conducted involving preterm neonates diagnosed with NEC and matched controls.
• Data were collected from infants admitted between January 2018 and December 2019.
• Statistical analysis, including Empowerstats, was used to assess the relationship between PLR and NEC.

Main Results:

• Infants diagnosed with NEC exhibited significantly higher PLR levels compared to the control group.
• A PLR exceeding 100 within one week prior to NEC diagnosis was identified as a risk factor.
• A PLR cutoff of >100 demonstrated a high predictive value for NEC (OR: 18.82, p = 0.002).

Conclusions:

• Elevated PLR (>100) within one week of clinical abnormalities is strongly associated with a high risk of NEC in preterm neonates.
• PLR shows potential as a valuable, non-invasive biomarker for the early detection of NEC.
• Further research could validate PLR as a routine diagnostic tool in neonatal intensive care units.