Clinical value of quantitative echocardiographic features in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis

Abstract This study investigated the correlation between quantitative echocardiographic characteristics within 3 days of birth and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and its severity in preterm infants. A retrospective study was conducted on 168 preterm infants with a gestational age of < 34 weeks....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wenmei li, Wenqiang Sun, Zexi Sun, Huawei Wang, Xueping Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87544-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832585883456372736
author Wenmei li
Wenqiang Sun
Zexi Sun
Huawei Wang
Xueping Zhu
author_facet Wenmei li
Wenqiang Sun
Zexi Sun
Huawei Wang
Xueping Zhu
author_sort Wenmei li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study investigated the correlation between quantitative echocardiographic characteristics within 3 days of birth and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and its severity in preterm infants. A retrospective study was conducted on 168 preterm infants with a gestational age of < 34 weeks. Patients were categorized into NEC and non-NEC groups. Clinical and quantitative cardiac ultrasound characteristics were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses. Additionally, the NEC group was divided into two subgroups according to Bell’s staging, and the quantitative echocardiographic characteristics were compared. Overall, 141 preterm infants were included. Percentage of antenatal glucocorticosteroid administrations was lower in the NEC group than those in the control group. Umbilical vein cannulation, antibiotic duration, total red blood cell infusion, duration of total parenteral and total enteral nutrition, respiratory failure, hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus, anemia, neutropenia, hyperbilirubinemia were significantly higher than those in the control group. The maximum shunt velocity and differential pressure (P) on the pulmonary side of the arterial conduit were significantly lower, whereas the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were significantly higher in the NEC group. Antenatal glucocorticoid use and umbilical vein cannulation were protective factors against NEC. Anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and lower P were risk factors for NEC. P was significantly lower and LVFS and LVES were significantly higher in preterm infants in the NEC II B-III group than those in the NEC II A group. Preterm infants with NEC have significant abnormalities in some quantitative features on echocardiography within 3 days after birth, and a lower P may be a risk factor for the development of NEC.
format Article
id doaj-art-e8e7b506953a4097a8b2d2c684190189
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-e8e7b506953a4097a8b2d2c6841901892025-01-26T12:25:32ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-011511910.1038/s41598-025-87544-0Clinical value of quantitative echocardiographic features in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitisWenmei li0Wenqiang Sun1Zexi Sun2Huawei Wang3Xueping Zhu4Department of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow UniversityAbstract This study investigated the correlation between quantitative echocardiographic characteristics within 3 days of birth and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and its severity in preterm infants. A retrospective study was conducted on 168 preterm infants with a gestational age of < 34 weeks. Patients were categorized into NEC and non-NEC groups. Clinical and quantitative cardiac ultrasound characteristics were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses. Additionally, the NEC group was divided into two subgroups according to Bell’s staging, and the quantitative echocardiographic characteristics were compared. Overall, 141 preterm infants were included. Percentage of antenatal glucocorticosteroid administrations was lower in the NEC group than those in the control group. Umbilical vein cannulation, antibiotic duration, total red blood cell infusion, duration of total parenteral and total enteral nutrition, respiratory failure, hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus, anemia, neutropenia, hyperbilirubinemia were significantly higher than those in the control group. The maximum shunt velocity and differential pressure (P) on the pulmonary side of the arterial conduit were significantly lower, whereas the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were significantly higher in the NEC group. Antenatal glucocorticoid use and umbilical vein cannulation were protective factors against NEC. Anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and lower P were risk factors for NEC. P was significantly lower and LVFS and LVES were significantly higher in preterm infants in the NEC II B-III group than those in the NEC II A group. Preterm infants with NEC have significant abnormalities in some quantitative features on echocardiography within 3 days after birth, and a lower P may be a risk factor for the development of NEC.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87544-0Necrotizing enterocolitisPreterm infantsEchocardiographicRisk factors
spellingShingle Wenmei li
Wenqiang Sun
Zexi Sun
Huawei Wang
Xueping Zhu
Clinical value of quantitative echocardiographic features in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis
Scientific Reports
Necrotizing enterocolitis
Preterm infants
Echocardiographic
Risk factors
title Clinical value of quantitative echocardiographic features in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis
title_full Clinical value of quantitative echocardiographic features in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis
title_fullStr Clinical value of quantitative echocardiographic features in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis
title_full_unstemmed Clinical value of quantitative echocardiographic features in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis
title_short Clinical value of quantitative echocardiographic features in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis
title_sort clinical value of quantitative echocardiographic features in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis
topic Necrotizing enterocolitis
Preterm infants
Echocardiographic
Risk factors
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87544-0
work_keys_str_mv AT wenmeili clinicalvalueofquantitativeechocardiographicfeaturesinpreterminfantswithnecrotizingenterocolitis
AT wenqiangsun clinicalvalueofquantitativeechocardiographicfeaturesinpreterminfantswithnecrotizingenterocolitis
AT zexisun clinicalvalueofquantitativeechocardiographicfeaturesinpreterminfantswithnecrotizingenterocolitis
AT huaweiwang clinicalvalueofquantitativeechocardiographicfeaturesinpreterminfantswithnecrotizingenterocolitis
AT xuepingzhu clinicalvalueofquantitativeechocardiographicfeaturesinpreterminfantswithnecrotizingenterocolitis