Role of urinary IFABP in diagnosis and predicting severity of NEC

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Predictive value of urinary intestinal fatty acid binding protein in preterm infants at risk of developing Necrotising Enterocolitis

  • IRAS ID

    143216

  • Contact name

    Ingo Jester

  • Contact email

    ingo.jester@bch.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Birmingham Women's Hospital

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 11 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious disease that affects the bowel of premature babies; a lot of babies die, many need emergency surgery and those who survive can have significant long term health problems. Identifying this disease earlier would allow more timely and effective treatment. We plan to measure a protein called intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP), which is released from the bowel when it is damaged. This protein can be measured quite easily from a small sample of urine taken from a cotton wool ball in the nappy. The results of this study may allow earlier identification of NEC in the future leading to earlier treatment and fewer complications in babies who develop NEC.

  • REC name

    North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    14/NE/1241

  • Date of REC Opinion

    4 Feb 2015

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion