Perinatal events and necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants
W. P. Kanto Jr, R. Wilson, G. L. Breart, S. Zierler, D. M. Purohit, G. J. Peckham and R. C. Ellison
Among 2123 premature infants monitored during a large multicenter study of
patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) was diagnosed in
121 (5.7%) of these infants. Rates ranged from 13.5% among infants with a
birth-weight (BW) of 500 to 749 g to 2.9% among infants whose BW was
between 1500 and 1750 g. The presence of a hemodynamically significant
patent ductus arteriosus did not alter the incidence of NEC. Of a large
number of perinatal events and conditions considered, only BW and maternal
toxemia were found to be associated with the rate of NEC, both relating
inversely. Thus, these data do not support a relationship between NEC and a
variety of perinatal factors previously postulated as potential
determinants of the disorder.
