Objectives: This review aims to examine the characteristics of the faecal calprotectin assay in neonates and the evidence for its use as a noninvasive marker of intestinal illnesses during the neonatal period. Methods: Bibliographic searches were performed in MEDLINE electronic database up to February 2010 looking for the following words (all fields): (‘‘infants’’ or ‘‘neonates’’) and calprotectin. Twenty studies, in which 1180 neonates were enrolled, were selected. Results: During the neonatal period, calprotectin levels are characterized by significantly higher values in both healthy full-term and preterm infants during their first year of life compared with reference values established for children and adults. No difference was observed according to gestational age or birthweight, whereas a higher faecal calprotectin level was detected during intestinal distress in neonates with either inflammatory or patent digestive alterations. Despite high interindividual variations, cut-off levels are proposed to identify infants with high risk of intestinal illnesses. Conclusion: Compared with adults and children, healthy full-term and preterm neonates have high calprotectin levels. The measurement of calprotectin levels in faeces can be a promising noninvasive clinical screening test for intestinal distress in neonates.

Faecal Calprotectin in Term and Preterm Neonates: A Review

BALDASSARRE, Maria Elisabetta;
2010-01-01

Abstract

Objectives: This review aims to examine the characteristics of the faecal calprotectin assay in neonates and the evidence for its use as a noninvasive marker of intestinal illnesses during the neonatal period. Methods: Bibliographic searches were performed in MEDLINE electronic database up to February 2010 looking for the following words (all fields): (‘‘infants’’ or ‘‘neonates’’) and calprotectin. Twenty studies, in which 1180 neonates were enrolled, were selected. Results: During the neonatal period, calprotectin levels are characterized by significantly higher values in both healthy full-term and preterm infants during their first year of life compared with reference values established for children and adults. No difference was observed according to gestational age or birthweight, whereas a higher faecal calprotectin level was detected during intestinal distress in neonates with either inflammatory or patent digestive alterations. Despite high interindividual variations, cut-off levels are proposed to identify infants with high risk of intestinal illnesses. Conclusion: Compared with adults and children, healthy full-term and preterm neonates have high calprotectin levels. The measurement of calprotectin levels in faeces can be a promising noninvasive clinical screening test for intestinal distress in neonates.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11586/25060
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 74
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 65
social impact