Abstract
Aims of Study: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an amino acid polypeptide that has been shown to
promote mucosal healing and intestinal growth in experimental models and has a potential
role in the aetiology and treatment of NEC. The aim of this study was to determine
the normal levels of salivary EGF in a cohort of healthy neonatal infants. Material and Methods: With appropriate ethical approval and informed consent, saliva was collected using
a suction catheter from all normal neonatal infants admitted to our unit over a 9-month
period. The samples were immediately frozen at − 20 °C and analysed using an ELISA
assay (R & D Systems, Oxford, UK). Samples taken a week prior to and two weeks following
a septic episode (as diagnosed by clinical or biochemical evidence) were excluded.
Patients with congenital malformations and chromosomal anomalies were excluded. Results: A total of 65 samples were collected and analysed from 27 babies. The mean gestation
and weight of the patients was 32.2 (± 5.50) weeks and 1954.44 (± 1045.7) grams, respectively.
Five samples from 2 infants were discarded. None of the patients in whom the samples
were analysed had clinical or serum markers of sepsis or NEC. All infants were given
maternal breast milk starting at the mean age of 5 (± 3.47) days. The mean EGF values
were 676.95 (± 168.47) pg/ml. There was a significant rise in serial salivary EGF
values in patients (p = 0.0019). There was no correlation between the EGF values and
gestation (R = 0.35, p = 0.08). The birth weight, sex or timing of initiating enteral
feeds did not correlate with EGF values. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study shows a rise in salivary EGF values in serial samples in
a clearly defined group of healthy infants.
Key words
necrotising enterocolitis - epidermal growth factor - newborn
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Dr. Amit Gupta
Neonatal Unit
Children's Hospital John Radcliffe
Headley Way
Oxford OX3 9DZ
United Kingdom
eMail: amit.gupta@doctors.org.uk
