The inflammatory status of the intestine in premature infants depending on gestational age

Abstract

Background and objectives (Aim). To identify the features of the inflammatory status of the intestine in premature infants depending on gestational age. Materials and methods. The study included 36 premature babies. All children were divided into two groups, according to gestational age (GA): group 1-12 newborns with GA of 22 (0/7) - 28 (6/7) weeks; and group 2-24 newborns with GA of 29(0/7) - 32(6/7) weeks. The exclusion criteria were: the presence of congenital malformations, septic conditions, surgical pathologies. Results. The level of fecal calprotectin, as well as CRP in the 1st group of children was significantly higher than in the 2nd group, which demonstrates an inverse relationship between the severity of inflammation and the gestational age of premature newborns: the lower the gestational age, the higher the rates of inflammation in the intestines. The permeability of the intestinal barrier was high in both groups, which was reflected in increased values of fecal alpha-antitrypsin on the 3rd and 14th days of the examination, and did not have statistically significant differences between the groups. Children of group 1 required longer treatment than children of group 2, both in the ICU. Clinical manifestations of digestive disorders in premature infants were manifested by decreasing in body weight gain, the appearance of discharge from the tube with pathological impurities, while no significant difference was found between the groups. Conclusions. Premature neonates less than 28 weeks of age show greater signs of acute inflammation in the intestinal tract.

Keywords

• preterm
• inflammatory status
• intestine
• gestational age