The medical records of 27 neonates with radiographic and surgical evidence of NEC were reviewed for clinical markers in the week prior to the onset of the gastrointestinal illness. The six infants who developed NEC within three days after birth had not been fed. Five of the six had evidence of ischemic injury, two had thrombocytopenia, one was neutropenic, and none had eosinophilia.

In the 21 infants who had been fed prior to the onset of NEC, all but one developed NEC eights days of age or greater. Seventeen developed neutropenia or bandemia one day prior to or on the day of onset of NEC. Twelve had a falling platelet count; nine had less than 100,000 platelets/mm3 on the day of diagnosis. Thirteen had eosinophil counts of 5-25% shortly following the initiation of feedings or within three days prior to the diagnosis of NEC. In preterm infants weighing < 1500 grams a decrease in stools were commonly noted with increase in feedings prior to the diagnosis of NEC. The appearance of eosinophils in preterm infants prior to the onset of NEC along with decreased intestinal motility suggest that the feeding-associated form of NEC results from inflammation in dysfunctional intestine (Neonatal Inflammatory Bowel Disease).