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Review
. 2010 Nov-Dec;1(6):359-66.
doi: 10.4161/gmic.1.6.14077.

Intestinal microbiota and blue baby syndrome: probiotic therapy for term neonates with cyanotic congenital heart disease

Collin L Ellis  1 , John C Rutledge, Mark A Underwood
Affiliations
Review

Intestinal microbiota and blue baby syndrome: probiotic therapy for term neonates with cyanotic congenital heart disease

Collin L Ellis et al. Gut Microbes. 2010 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common intestinal emergency among premature infants. Risk factors in premature infants include immature intestinal immunity and an intestinal microbiota dominated by hospital-acquired bacteria. Some probiotics have been shown to decrease the incidence of NEC in premature infants. Among term infants, NEC is rare. However, among term infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD), the incidence of NEC is similar to that of premature infants but with even greater mortality rates. Mechanisms by which NEC occurs in term infants with CCHD are unknown. Of central interest is the potential role of changes in the intestinal microbiota and whether these can be modified with probiotic bacteria; accordingly, we review the literature, propose hypotheses and present the rationale for future studies involving preliminary probiotic clinical trials.

Keywords: bifidobacterium; cyanotic congenital heart disease; intestinal microbiota; necrotizing enterocolitis; probiotic.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Modified Bell criteria for clinical staging of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proposed mechanisms for prevention of NEC by probiotics in premature infants.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Unanswered questions regarding NEC onset in term infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) and the potential role of probiotics.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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