Table 3 Comparison of plasma I-FABP, FC, hBD2, and CRP levels among NEC neonates according to modified bell’s system stages and the control set

Stage II NEC

(n = 18)

0.57

(0.50–14.87)

482.99

(113.55–1552.18)

376.44

(352.27–391.46)

3.36

(1.245–6.745)

Stage III NEC

(n = 12)

14.24

(0.46–93.4)

818.06

(328.40–4358.23)

336.87

(316.33–372.67)

9.28

(5.085–13.238)

Control

(n = 40)

0.53

(0.30–31.53)

213.34

(32.15–1036.29)

339.86

(319.57–368.45)

1.38

(0.083–4.961)

p value

0.016^a

0.000 ^a

0.000 ^a

0.000 ^a

0.204^b

0.101 ^b

0.000 ^b

0.017 ^b

1.0^c

0.014 ^c

0.000 ^c

0.002 ^c

0.012^d

0.000 ^d

0.474 ^d

0.000 ^d