Faecal volatile organic compounds in preterm babies at risk of necrotising enterocolitis: the DOVE study (original) (raw)

BackgroundEarly diagnosis of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) may improve prognosis but there are no proven biomarkers.ObjectiveTo investigate changes in faecal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as potential biomarkers for NEC.DesignMulticentre prospective study.Settings8 UK neonatal units.PatientsPreterm infants <34 weeks gestation.MethodsDaily faecal samples were collected prospectively from 1326 babies of whom 49 subsequently developed definite NEC. Faecal samples from 32 NEC cases were compared with samples from frequency-matched controls without NEC. Headspace, solid phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was performed and VOCs identified from reference libraries. VOC samples from cases and controls were compared using both discriminant and factor analysis methods.ResultsVOCs were found to cluster into nine groups (factors), three were associated with NEC and indicated the possibility of disease up to 3–4 days before the clinical diagnosis was established....