Review article
Necrotizing enterocolitis of infants – new treatment possibilities
Mislav Knežević
; School of Medicine Zagreb; 2University Hospital Centre Zagreb
Josip Juras
orcid.org/0000-0002-1801-5732
; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine University of Zagreb
Jurica Vuković
; University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine University of Zagreb
Boris Filipović-Grčić
; University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine University of Zagreb
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) of infants is a devastating disease that is both difficult to treat and to effectively predict its development. Its occurrence and progression are associated with a plethora of possible causes. That is why, in recent years, many studies were made with the intent of finding efficient new ways of treatment and prevention. Some of those were designed to study and isolate specific factors found in maternal milk and others were more focused on testing synthetic molecules or natural remedies. The etiology of NEC and its epidemiology followed by a characterization of the pathology and pathogenesis, as well as symptomatology, clinical, radiological, and biochemical methods of detection. New possible treatment methods and techniques are briefly described: insulin-like growth factor, human milk oligosaccharides, epidermal growth factor family, transforming growth factor β, an enzyme – alkaline phosphatase, vitamin A, trefoil factor family, branch chain fatty acids, erythropoietin, oxygen, and ozone. Particular emphasis is given to the role of maternal milk as a source of many of biochemical factors in prevention and even treatment of NEC. Further investigations are needed to decrease the incidence and severity as well as to improve the chances of NEC patients.
Keywords
necrotizing enterocolitis; infants; new treatment methods
Hrčak ID:
251761
URI
Publication date:
1.4.2017.
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