Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei F19 in Bell's stage 2 of necrotizing enterocolitis. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei F19 in Bell's stage 2 of necrotizing enterocolitis.
Minerva Pediatr. 2013 Aug ;65(4):353-60. PMID: 24051968
N Zampieri
AIM: The aim of this trial is to evaluate the role Lactobacillus paracasei in Bell's stage 2 in order to prevent the clinical progression to stage 3.
METHODS: A prospective study was approved and started in December 2008. Patients were infants with birth weight 600 to 1500 g. One group received probiotic supplementation (L. paracasei susp.paracasei F-19) and the control group received only standard medical treatment. The primary outcome was the progression to stage 3 as defined by Bell's modified criteria. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were created and discussed with parents before treatment.
RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (stage 2 NEC) were considered eligible for the study. Group A: 18 patients and Group B: 14 patients. Three patients in group A and six patients in group B had a clinical history of Bell's stage 3 NEC (P<0.05); oral supplementation of L. paracasei reduced the clinical progression of NEC. It was considered that an improvement in intestinal motility might have contributed to this result.
CONCLUSION: The use of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei F-19 is safe; the low progression rate to stage 3 NEC suggests that the use of this probiotic in stage 2 NEC could be a valuable therapeutic option.