[Role of maturation in the occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis]

Over a 3 years and an half period, 40 cases of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) are diagnosed in a neonate unit. This represents, 1,22% of total admissions. A new notion is found out: the âge at the onset of NEC is viewed as the post-conceptional age (post-natal age added to gestational age). The cut-off period takes place at 34-36 weeks of post-conceptional age. The low birth weight newborn infants (less than 1 500 g) are significantly more concerned than the others, respectively 5,8% (13/222) and 0,8% (27/3 056). However, the inverse and significant correlation between the delay of onset of NEC and the birth weight is weak. The additional impact of feeding and blood transfusions on the role played by maturation is examined.