Study of inflammatory intervention in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis with erythropoietin

Objective To study the clinical effect of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) with erythropoietin and the influences of inflammation and toll like receptor(TLR)4/NF-κB signal pathway. Methods A total of 94 consecutives as NEC from August 2016 to August 2018 were enrolled and divided into control group (n=42) and observation group (n=52) ; those in control group received standard medical treatment plan and those in observation group adopted recombinant EPO intramuscular injection (dosage of 200 IU/kg, twice per week) at the same time for the course of one week. Then to compare differences of complications and mortality incidences, serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6,TLR-4 and NF-κB mRNA before and after treatment. Results In the control group, 21 patients had complications, including 7 cases sepsis, 6 cases acute intestinal perforation, 6 cases infectious peritonitis, and 2 cases other cases. There were 15 cases in the observation group, including 5 cases sepsis and 5 cases acute intestinal perforation, 4 cases infectious peritonitis, 1 other case, The complications and mortality incidences in observation group were both significantly lower than control group (all P＜0.05). What's more, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 after treatment in observation group were both lower than before, and less than control group (all P＜0.05). The levels of TLR-4 and NF-κB mRNA after treatment in observation group were both lower than before, and less than control group, too (all P＜0.05). Conclusion It can reduce inflammation TNF-α and IL-6 levels by TLR-4/NF-κB signal pathway with EPO in order to improve NEC clinical symptoms and prognosis.