Does serum albumin at the onset of necrotisıng enterocolitis predict severe disease in preterm infants?
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In brief
In brief
This prospective cohort study identifies serum albumin and CRP levels at NEC onset as independent predictors of severe disease in preterm infants. Low albumin (<23 g/L) showed 84% specificity for identifying cases requiring surgery or at risk of mortality, offering clinicians an early prognostic tool for risk stratification.
- Low serum albumin (<23 g/L) at NEC onset predicts severe disease with 84% specificity in preterm infants.
- Elevated CRP and serum lactate at presentation are associated with increased risk of surgical NEC or NEC-related mortality.
- Serum albumin level is an independent risk factor for severe NEC and may guide early clinical decision-making.
- Platelet count is significantly lower in preterm infants who develop severe versus non-severe necrotizing enterocolitis.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Abstract
Objective
To investigate whether laboratory markers obtained at the onset of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) predict the severity of the disease in preterm infants.
Methods
Prospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary referance hospital. A total of 88 preterm infants were included in the study. Of those, 60 infants had the diagnosis of severe NEC, while the remaining 28 infants constituted the non-severe NEC group. Severe NEC was defined as surgical NEC or NEC-related mortality. Infants with and without severe NEC were compared in terms of demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics.
Results
At the onset of disease, infants with severe NEC noted to have lower platelet count and serum ALB levels (p = 0.011, p = 0.004; respectively), whereas higher CRP, and serum lactate levels (p = 0.009, p = 0.008; respectively). Multiple binary logistic regression analyses showed that CRP (1.03(1.01–1.05), p = 0.024) and serum albumin level (0.16(0.04–0.64), p = 0.010) were statistically significant independent risk factors for severe NEC. The optimal cut-off value for the serum ALB level was found to be 23 g/L with 52% sensitivity (95%CI: 37–68%) and 84% specificity (95%CI: 60–97%) (AUC 0.727; p = 0.002).
Conclusion
Serum ALB level at NEC onset might be a reliable biomarker for severe disease in preterm infants.