Abstract
NEC was diagnosed in 4 VLBI (GA 28.5±1.7 wk; BW 777±134 g) at 2-6 d of age on the basis of clinical symptoms, laboratory and x-ray examinations, and was confirmed in laparotomy. 0-1 d before clinical diagnosis (dg) ethane (E) of the expired air was 388 (N=4; range 110-900), compared with 15.6 (N=6; range 2-21) pml/kg/min 2-3 d prior to dg (p=0.01). Corresponding values for penlane (P) were 59.8 (N=4; range 20.8-96.7) and 28.8 (N=6; range 8.3-49.1) pmol/kg/min, respectively. One patient (GA 29.6 wk; BW 708 g) developed clinical symptoms indicative of NEC at 7 d of age. In laparotomy microcolon but no NEC was found. 0-1 d before dg E was 27.9 (N=2) compared with 73.9 (N=2) 2-3 d prior to dg. P was 28.1 (N=2), and 32.3 (N=2) pmol/kg/min, respectively. Increased expired E and P are potential indicators of NEC observed before clinical dg. E and P are volatile products of free-radical-induced lipid peroxidation. NEC may be associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation caused by reperfusion or recruitment of phagocytizing cells.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kuivalainen, E., Pitkänen, O., Hallman, M. et al. 92 ETHANE AND PENTANE AS POTENTIAL INDICATORS OF NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS (NEC) IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS (VLBI). Pediatr Res 28, 292 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199009000-00116
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199009000-00116