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Intestinal Fatty Acid-binding Protein as a Marker of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Incidence and Severity: a Scoping
Lourenço Sbragia1, Igor José Nogueira Gualberto2, Jason Xia3
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.
Introduction:
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract and one of the most common life-threatening emergencies affecting newborns. Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) has been used as a possible marker of intestinal damage in NEC. We aimed to carry out a scoping review of all publications that explore the role of I-FABP in NEC to inspire new research into the potential utility of I-FABP as a marker of NEC.
Methods:
We searched for relevant publications using the keywords "necrotizing enterocolitis," "intestinal fatty acid binding protein," "NEC," and "I-FABP" in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE), Embase, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews was used for reporting findings.
Results:
We identified 61 relevant articles, which we divided into clinical (n = 47) and experimental (n = 14) groups.
Conclusions:
I-FABP is a promising marker of NEC, especially for NEC stage 2 and 3. Urinary I-FABP follows the same patterns as serum and plasma I-FABP. The definitive roles of I-FABP in early diagnosis of NEC, differential diagnosis in breast feeding, alimentary intolerance, and screening of surgical NEC need clarification and remain a challenge to investigators.
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