CALPROTECTIN AND IL-8: MARKERS OF INTESTINAL INFLAMMATION IN (PRE)TERM INFANTS?

Introduction and objectives In newborn (especially preterm) infants, a systemic inflammatory response occurs within 5 minutes after birth. Calprotectin and IL8 in faeces may reflect this inflammatory response. Objectives of this study were to compare calprotectin and IL8 in faeces of preterm and term infants and to determine the effect of perinatal factors on calprotectin and IL8 in faeces of preterm infants Methods Stool samples from preterm ( 37 wks) were collected Results 20 term infants (GA 39.1 wks (37–42.3), BW 3493 g (2115–4320) and 74 preterm infants (GA 30.3 wks (25.7–34.7), BW 1350 g (645–2300) were included. Calprotectin and IL8 were both higher in preterm than in term infants (480 vs 190 μg/g, p = 0.001 and 29.2 vs 4.9 pg/mL, p Conclusions Intestinal inflammation, reflected by fecal calprotectin and IL-8 is more pronounced in preterm than in term infants. Fecal calprotectin and IL-8 are strongly correlated. Of the perinatal factors, only gestational age is negatively correlated with IL8 in preterm infants.