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.

Autore Pugliese

• Baldassarre Maria Elisabetta

Tutti gli autori

• BALDASSARRE M.E.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2010

ISSN

0277-2116

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

1

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

42

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile