Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Neurodevelopmental Outcome.

Necrotizing enterocolitis is a serious complication of prematurity that is associated with an increased risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcome secondary to a complex relationship between various morbidities that increase the risk for central nervous system injury. Affected infants are exposed to a variety of circulating cytokines known to be associated with white matter injury. These infants also have an increased risk of secondary blood stream infections and nutritional compromise.