OBJECTIVETo study the changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and their clinical significance.

METHODSAccording to the modified Bell's staging criteria, 142 neonates with NEC were divided into stage I group (n=40), stage II group (n=72), and stage III group (n=30). All the 18 neonates who underwent surgical treatment had stage III NEC, and among the 124 neonates who underwent conservative treatment, 12 had stage III NEC and the others had stage I or II NEC. CRP and PCT were measured before treatment, on the next day after treatment, and during the recovery stage.

RESULTSBefore treatment, on the next day after treatment, and during the recovery stage, the stage III group had a higher level of CRP than the stage I and stage II groups (P<0.05). On the next day after treatment, the stage II and stage III groups had an increase in CRP (P<0.05), and the stage III group had an increase in PCT (P<0.05). The stage II and stage III groups had lower CRP and PCT in the recovery stage than before treatment and on the next day after treatment (P<0.05). The stage III group had higher incidence rate of respiratory failure and rate of mechanical ventilation than the stage I and stage II groups (P<0.05), and the stage III group had a higher incidence rate of sepsis than the stage II group (P=0.010). Gastrointestinal perforation and intestinal stenosis were observed in 10 and 8 neonates respectively in the stage III group. CRP on the next day after treatment had a value in predicting stage III NEC (P<0.05), and CRP before treatment and on the next day after treatment had a value in predicting the need for surgery (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLevels of CRP and PCT and their changes can help with the early diagnosis of Bell stage II/III NEC, and CRP can be used to predict the development of stage III NEC and the need for surgery.