{"title":"The relation between serum levels of epidermal growth factor and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates.","authors":"Heba Mostafa Ahmed, Nsreen Mostafa Kamel","doi":"10.3345/kjp.2018.07108","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most serious complications of prematurity. Many risk factors can contribute to the development of NEC. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays a major role in intestinal barrier function, increases intestinal enzyme activity, and improves nutrient transport. The aim of this study was to assess the role of epidermal growth factor in the development of NEC in preterm neonates.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, 130 preterm neonates were included and divided into 3 groups, as follows: group 1, 40 preterm neonates with NEC; group 2, 50 preterm neonates with sepsis; and group 3, 40 healthy preterm neonates as controls. The NEC group was then subdivided into medical and surgical NEC subgroups. The serum EGF level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Serum EGF levels (pg/dL) were significantly lower in the NEC group (median [interquartile range, IQR], 9.6 [2-14]) than in the sepsis (10.1 [8-14]) and control groups (11.2 [8-14], P<0.001), with no significant difference between the sepsis and control groups, and were positively correlated with gestational age (r=0.7, P<0.001). A binary logistic regression test revealed that low EGF levels and gestational ages could significantly predict the development of NEC. The receiver-operating characteristic curve for EGF showed an optimal cutoff value of 8 pg/mL, with 73.3% sensitivity, 98% specificity, and an area under the curve of 0.92.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The patients with NEC in this study had significantly lower serum EGF levels (P<0.001), which indicated that EGF could be a reliable marker of NEC in preterm neonates.</p>","PeriodicalId":17863,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Pediatrics","volume":"62 8","pages":"307-311"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2019-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/5c/d4/kjp-2018-07108.PMC6702115.pdf","citationCount":"4","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Korean Journal of Pediatrics","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2018.07108","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2019/3/15 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 4
Abstract
Purpose: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most serious complications of prematurity. Many risk factors can contribute to the development of NEC. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays a major role in intestinal barrier function, increases intestinal enzyme activity, and improves nutrient transport. The aim of this study was to assess the role of epidermal growth factor in the development of NEC in preterm neonates.
Methods: In this study, 130 preterm neonates were included and divided into 3 groups, as follows: group 1, 40 preterm neonates with NEC; group 2, 50 preterm neonates with sepsis; and group 3, 40 healthy preterm neonates as controls. The NEC group was then subdivided into medical and surgical NEC subgroups. The serum EGF level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Serum EGF levels (pg/dL) were significantly lower in the NEC group (median [interquartile range, IQR], 9.6 [2-14]) than in the sepsis (10.1 [8-14]) and control groups (11.2 [8-14], P<0.001), with no significant difference between the sepsis and control groups, and were positively correlated with gestational age (r=0.7, P<0.001). A binary logistic regression test revealed that low EGF levels and gestational ages could significantly predict the development of NEC. The receiver-operating characteristic curve for EGF showed an optimal cutoff value of 8 pg/mL, with 73.3% sensitivity, 98% specificity, and an area under the curve of 0.92.
Conclusion: The patients with NEC in this study had significantly lower serum EGF levels (P<0.001), which indicated that EGF could be a reliable marker of NEC in preterm neonates.
期刊介绍:
Korean J Pediatr covers clinical and research works relevant to all aspects of child healthcare. The journal aims to serve pediatricians through the prompt publication of significant advances in any field of pediatrics and to rapidly disseminate recently updated knowledge to the public. Additionally, it will initiate dynamic, international, academic discussions concerning the major topics related to pediatrics. Manuscripts are categorized as review articles, original articles, and case reports. Areas of specific interest include: Growth and development, Neonatology, Pediatric neurology, Pediatric nephrology, Pediatric endocrinology, Pediatric cardiology, Pediatric allergy, Pediatric pulmonology, Pediatric infectious diseases, Pediatric immunology, Pediatric hemato-oncology, Pediatric gastroenterology, Nutrition, Human genetics, Metabolic diseases, Adolescence medicine, General pediatrics.