Fecal calprotectin in very low birth weight infants.

Objectives: To measure concentrations of fecal calprotectin (f-calprotectin) in infants with very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) longitudinally and to describe changes in f-calprotectin in infants who develop severe abdominal disease.

Patients And Methods: The study included 59 VLBW infants. Seven patients (disease group) developed severe abdominal disease defined as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or a condition leading to laparotomy.