Clinical research advancement of fecal calprotectin during the neonatal period

Neonatal gastrointestinal dysfunction was closely related to postnatal growth retardation.Looking for an early specific indicator to reflect gastrointestinal function was important.Calprotectin was a calciumzinc binding protein mainly in human neutrophil granulocytes,which was the marker of acute inflammatory cell activation.Fecal calprotectin was expressed at high levels during the neonatal period and was significantly higher in the intestinal damage,which could be used as the marker of intestinal illnesses (such as feeding intolerance,neonatal diarrhea,necrotizing enterocolitis).This review will summarize the characteristics of fecal calprotectin in neonates and its clinical significance as a noninvasive marker of intestinal illnesses during the neonatal period. Key words: Calcium-binding proteins;  Feces;  Newborn;  Necrotizing enterocolitis