Analysis of the association between necrotizing enterocolitis and transfusion of red blood cell in very low birth weight preterm infants

Bak, Seon-Yeong; Lee, Sihyoung; Park, Jae-Hong; Park, Kyu-Hee; Jeon, Ji-Hyun

In the multivariate logistic regression, a higher frequency of RBC(t) before the NEC diagnosis increased the risk for NEC 1.63 times (95% CI, 1.145 to 2.305; P=0.007) after adjusted for GA, Apgar score at 1 minute, RDS, PROM, DIC, and death. The number of transfusions was significantly different be tween our two groups and the adjusted multivariate logistic regression revealed that the NEC risk increased 1.297 times (95% CI, 1.097 to 1.533; P=0.002) with an increase in the number of transfusions. There are several biologically plausible reasons why packed RBC(t) may lead to NEC, including a decrease in nitric oxide in stored RBCs and an exaggerated intestinal immune response to packed RBC(t) 9) . In contrast to our study, Josephson et al 10) . reported that RBC(t) had no temporal re lationship to NEC and stated that is only meaningful as it indi cates the infant's general condition.