Abstract
Objective:
We hypothesized that neonates with bloody stools and concomitant eosinophilia are likely to have atopic enteropathy rather than necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
Study Design:
This was a retrospective cross-sectional study using electronic medical records and paper charts. Records of neonates admitted to any Intermountain Healthcare NICU between 1 January 2005 and 30 June 2010 were eligible if ‘bloody stools’ were listed in any archive. Qualifying records were divided into two groups depending on whether or not within 72 h of passing bloody stool eosinophil counts were above the 95th percentile reference range limit for age.
Result:
Bloody stools were identified in 275 predominantly Caucasian neonates. Fifty-four of these had eosinophilia and 221 had normal eosinophil counts. Those with eosinophilia were born at a slightly younger gestational age (31.3±4.6 vs 32.6±4.0 weeks, mean±s.d., P=0.032). Contrary to our hypothesis, those with eosinophilia did not have a lower rate of pneumatosis or bowel resection, or death ascribed to NEC. Eosinophilia was more common among those who had a red blood cell (RBC) transfusion within 48 h before passing bloody stools (P<0.001). Those with a recent RBC transfusion were the only neonates to have NEC surgery or to die from NEC. Preceding the bloody stools, those with no antecedent transfusion had been fed a larger volume (P=0.014), and had trends toward receiving calorically enriched feedings (P=0.055) and recent addition of human milk fortifier (P=0.060). Eosinophil counts following RBC transfusion tended to increase for 3–6 days, but when bloody stools were not preceded by transfusion the eosinophil counts were more static over that period.
Conclusion:
In this predominantly Caucasian group of neonates with bloody stools, the presence of eosinophilia did not identify a benign condition distinct from NEC. A total of 44% of these neonates had transfusion-associated NEC. Eosinophils could have a previously unrecognized role in the pathogenesis of this NEC subtype.
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Christensen, R., Lambert, D., Gordon, P. et al. Neonates presenting with bloody stools and eosinophilia can progress to two different types of necrotizing enterocolitis. J Perinatol 32, 874–879 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2011.163
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2011.163
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