Evidence for an immune complex vasculitis in neonatal necrotising enterocolitis

Despite many attractive hypotheses, neonatal necrotising enterocolitis (NNEC) remains a disease of unknown aetiology. By means of the immunofluorescent direct sandwich technique we have demonstrated immune complex deposition in the small vessels of the diseased bowel wall. We believe this is the first report of evidence of an immunological reaction occurring in this disease.