A correlation study of necrotizing enterocolitis and encephalopathy of prematurity in premature infants with gestational age

Abstract

Objective To study the correlation of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and encephalopathy of prematurity (EOP) in premature infants with gestational age (GA)<32 weeks. Method From January 2009 to December 2014, clinical data of preterm infants (GA<32 weeks) admitted to department of neonatology of Children′s Hospital of Fudan University and received brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at corrected GA of full term or near full term were collected. NEC patients were assigned into the NEC group. At the same time, patients with similar GA and birth weight without NEC were assigned into the control group. The incidence and MRI characteristics of EOP were studied using Chi-square method. Result A total of 312 preterm infants were included in our study, 104 in the NEC group, and 208 in the control group. The incidence of EOP in the NEC group was higher than the control group (27.9% vs.17.3%). The difference between the two groups were statistically significant (P=0.030). The incidence of non-cystic EOP in the NEC group was significantly higher than the control group (89.7% vs.63.9%, P=0.017). Conclusion NEC and EOP may be correlated in preterm infants with GA<32 weeks. Most of EOP were non-cystic injury. Key words: Enterocolitis, necrotizing; Brain disease; Infant, premature; Magnetic resonance imaging