Enteral Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor and Erythropoietin Early in Life Increases Feeding Tolerance in Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial

With preterm birth, the ingestion of amniotic fluid containing enterocyte trophic factors ceases abruptly. This likely predisposes them to villous atrophy feeding intolerance and necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC) once feedings are instituted.Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) and Erythropoietin (EPO) have important non-hematopoietic roles in human developmental biology. Among these roles, they have trophic actions on villous height and bowel length of the developing intestine.The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of enteral recombinant human G-CSF and recombinant human EPO in prevention of feeding intolerance and /or NEC in preterm infants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• premature neonates < 33 weeks gestational age

Exclusion Criteria:

• major congenital anomalies
• prior use of cytokines