Abstract
Potential biomarkers for infection and inflammatory disease are continually being identified, tested, and usually discarded as not being of sufficient resolution for general clinical use. A good biomarker for necrotizing entercolitis (NEC) would distinguish the infant developing NEC from the many infants with non-specific gastrointestinal findings that do not progress to NEC. The inter-alpha inhibitor proteins are a family of structurally related serine protease inhibitors that are present in plasma. These proteins decrease with sepsis, and Chaaban et al now show that the proteins also are decreased at the time of evaluation for NEC. Although the magnitude of decrease was just 50%, this decreased level separated the population of infants with NEC from the infants without NEC almost completely. Although the prospective, further larger studies will be required to demonstrate whether decreased inter-alpha inhibitor proteins can predict NEC with sufficient precision to be useful for patient management. Article page 757 ▸ Inter-Alpha Inhibitor Protein Level in Neonates Predicts Necrotizing EnterocolitisThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 157Issue 5PreviewTo compare inter-alpha inhibitor protein (IaIp) levels in neonates with proven necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and neonates with other, nonspecific abdominal disorders. Full-Text PDF
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