Meconium lactoferrin levels in neonates: can we predefine normal values?

Abstract

Background and aims: In recent years, Lactoferrin (LF) has become an object of interest to neonatologists. To date, there have been no studies on the presence of LF in neonatal meconium. The aim of the study was to assess LF concentrations in successive portions of meconium passed in the first days of extrauterine life and to calculate the total amount of LF accumulated in the fetal intestine in utero.Methods: The LF concentrations were determined using the ELISA Kit in meconium samples (n = 81), collected serially from neonates (n = 20). The sum of LF amounts in all portions of meconium passed by a neonate was considered to represent the total accumulation of this protein in the fetal intestine in utero.Results: The LF concentration in a single meconium portion was [μg/g]: mean ± SD = 45.07 ± 78.53, median = 18.98, range = 1.69–511.43. The total LF accumulation in the fetal intestine was [μg]: mean ± SD = 757.23 ± 745.41, median = 514.73, range = 20.48–2749.55. LF concentrations increased in the last meconium portions compared with the first portions passed immediately after birth (p = 0.017).Conclusions: Very large differences in LF concentrations between meconium portions and in the total LF accumulation between the neonates suggest the influence of intrauterine factors on the variations in fetal intestinal LF concentrations.