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Review
. 2011 Jan 20;364(3):255-64.
doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1005408.

Necrotizing enterocolitis

Josef Neu  1 , W Allan Walker
Affiliations
Review

Necrotizing enterocolitis

Josef Neu et al. N Engl J Med. .
No abstract available

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Clinical and Radiographic Features of Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Panel A shows an infant with a shiny, distended abdomen with periumbilical erythema. (Photograph courtesy of Dr. David Kays, Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Florida.) In the radiograph shown in Panel B, the upper arrow points to portal air, and the lower arrow points to a ring of intramural gas, which is indicative of pneumatosis intestinalis. (Radiograph courtesy of Dr. Jonathan Williams, Department of Pediatric Pathology, University of Florida.) In Panel C, the arrow points to an area of necrotic bowel in a patient with necrotizing enterocolitis. (Photograph courtesy of Dr. David Kays, Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Florida.)
Figure 2
Figure 2. Pathophysiology of Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Factors conferring a predisposition to necrotizing enterocolitis include genetic factors and several immature characteristics of the fetal intestine, including altered microbiota, inadequate intestinal barrier function, and an excessive inflammatory response. These factors contribute to the severe necrosis of the small intestine that is characteristic of this disease. TLR denotes toll-like receptor.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis.
    Tarnow-Mordi WO, Wilkinson D, Trivedi A. Tarnow-Mordi WO, et al. N Engl J Med. 2011 May 12;364(19):1877-8; author reply 1879. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1100289. N Engl J Med. 2011. PMID: 21568002 No abstract available.
  • Necrotizing enterocolitis.
    Lin HC, Wu SF, Underwood M. Lin HC, et al. N Engl J Med. 2011 May 12;364(19):1878-9; author reply 1879. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1100289. N Engl J Med. 2011. PMID: 21568003 No abstract available.

References

    1. Obladen M. Necrotizing enterocolitis — 150 years of fruitless search for the cause. Neonatology. 2009;96:203–10. - PubMed
    1. Grave GD, Nelson SA, Walker WA, et al. New therapies and preventive approaches for necrotizing enterocolitis: report of a research planning workshop. Pediatr Res. 2007;62:510–4. - PubMed
    1. Holman RC, Stoll BJ, Curns AT, Yorita KL, Steiner CA, Schonberger LB. Necrotising enterocolitis hospitalisations among neonates in the United States. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2006;20:498–506. - PubMed
    1. Guillet R, Stoll BJ, Cotten CM, et al. Association of H2-blocker therapy and higher incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants. Pediatrics. 2006;117(2):e137–e142. - PubMed
    1. Horbar JD, Badger GJ, Carpenter JH, et al. Trends in mortality and morbidity for very low birth weight infants, 1991-1999. Pediatrics. 2002;110:143–51. - PubMed

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