Urinary markers such as intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) and claudin-3 (indicat- ing loss of integrity

of intestinal
barrier) and the fecal marker calprotectin (representing intestinal
inflammation) are high in neonates suspected to have NEC who later
develop the disease. Of the three markers, only I-FABP is related to
disease severity. However, screening for NEC before clinical signs
develop is not useful because I-FABP is not elevated before a clinical
suspicion exists (Thuijls et al., 2010).