Maternal and Placental Risk Factors for Developing Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Very Preterm Infants

Despite the clinical relevance of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), it remains difficult to predict which preterm infants are more likely to develop NEC. Contrary to the neonatal risk factors for the development of NEC, little information is available regarding maternal (prenatal) risk factors. We aimed to identify maternal risk factors associated with the subsequent development of NEC in very preterm infants and to determine whether the placental inflammatory lesions were related to the NEC. Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined newborns born at