A meta-analysis on the predictive role of CRP in NEC diagnosis and prognosis

Abstract Background This study aims to evaluate the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) diagnosis and prognosis through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science data...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Huanhuan Cheng, Jing Yu, Liying Dai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Italian Journal of Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-02081-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849331930957348864
author Huanhuan Cheng
Jing Yu
Liying Dai
author_facet Huanhuan Cheng
Jing Yu
Liying Dai
author_sort Huanhuan Cheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study aims to evaluate the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) diagnosis and prognosis through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant studies on CRP and NEC. Outcomes included correlations between CRP levels and NEC occurrence, surgical intervention, severity, and intestinal strictures. Results A total of 30 studies were included in the analysis. Data from categorical variables indicated a significant positive association between CRP and the incidence of NEC (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 2.23–5.49), while continuous variables revealed a significant difference in CRP levels between the NEC and non-NEC groups (SMD: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.72–3.5). Elevated CRP levels were significantly correlated with an increased risk of surgery, with a notable difference in CRP levels between the surgical and non-surgical groups. CRP levels were also positively associated with the risk of NEC progression, and a significant difference was observed between the progression and non-progression groups. Besides, a significant difference in CRP levels was observed between the stricture and non-stricture groups. Subgroup analysis indicated that CRP has a higher predictive value in infants with NEC who had a gestational age greater than 28 weeks and a birth weight exceeding 1500 g. Conclusion CRP has significant clinical value in predicting the occurrence of NEC, disease progression, and the timing of surgical intervention.
format Article
id doaj-art-eac6297391b04fb4b92ebb1b011b0b22
institution Kabale University
issn 1824-7288
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Italian Journal of Pediatrics
spelling doaj-art-eac6297391b04fb4b92ebb1b011b0b222025-08-20T03:46:21ZengBMCItalian Journal of Pediatrics1824-72882025-07-0151111510.1186/s13052-025-02081-wA meta-analysis on the predictive role of CRP in NEC diagnosis and prognosisHuanhuan Cheng0Jing Yu1Liying Dai2Department of Neonatology, Anhui Provincial Children’s HospitalDepartment of Neonatology, Anhui Provincial Children’s HospitalDepartment of Neonatology, Anhui Provincial Children’s HospitalAbstract Background This study aims to evaluate the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) diagnosis and prognosis through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant studies on CRP and NEC. Outcomes included correlations between CRP levels and NEC occurrence, surgical intervention, severity, and intestinal strictures. Results A total of 30 studies were included in the analysis. Data from categorical variables indicated a significant positive association between CRP and the incidence of NEC (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 2.23–5.49), while continuous variables revealed a significant difference in CRP levels between the NEC and non-NEC groups (SMD: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.72–3.5). Elevated CRP levels were significantly correlated with an increased risk of surgery, with a notable difference in CRP levels between the surgical and non-surgical groups. CRP levels were also positively associated with the risk of NEC progression, and a significant difference was observed between the progression and non-progression groups. Besides, a significant difference in CRP levels was observed between the stricture and non-stricture groups. Subgroup analysis indicated that CRP has a higher predictive value in infants with NEC who had a gestational age greater than 28 weeks and a birth weight exceeding 1500 g. Conclusion CRP has significant clinical value in predicting the occurrence of NEC, disease progression, and the timing of surgical intervention.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-02081-wC-reactive protein (CRP)Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)Meta-analysisPredictionNeonates
spellingShingle Huanhuan Cheng
Jing Yu
Liying Dai
A meta-analysis on the predictive role of CRP in NEC diagnosis and prognosis
Italian Journal of Pediatrics
C-reactive protein (CRP)
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
Meta-analysis
Prediction
Neonates
title A meta-analysis on the predictive role of CRP in NEC diagnosis and prognosis
title_full A meta-analysis on the predictive role of CRP in NEC diagnosis and prognosis
title_fullStr A meta-analysis on the predictive role of CRP in NEC diagnosis and prognosis
title_full_unstemmed A meta-analysis on the predictive role of CRP in NEC diagnosis and prognosis
title_short A meta-analysis on the predictive role of CRP in NEC diagnosis and prognosis
title_sort meta analysis on the predictive role of crp in nec diagnosis and prognosis
topic C-reactive protein (CRP)
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
Meta-analysis
Prediction
Neonates
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-02081-w
work_keys_str_mv AT huanhuancheng ametaanalysisonthepredictiveroleofcrpinnecdiagnosisandprognosis
AT jingyu ametaanalysisonthepredictiveroleofcrpinnecdiagnosisandprognosis
AT liyingdai ametaanalysisonthepredictiveroleofcrpinnecdiagnosisandprognosis
AT huanhuancheng metaanalysisonthepredictiveroleofcrpinnecdiagnosisandprognosis
AT jingyu metaanalysisonthepredictiveroleofcrpinnecdiagnosisandprognosis
AT liyingdai metaanalysisonthepredictiveroleofcrpinnecdiagnosisandprognosis