52 In Vitro Evidence of Cow's Milk Protein Sensitisation in Neonatal Necrotising Enterocolitis

Background: Enteral feeding, particularly with formula feeds, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). The direct role of milk antigens on mucosal and systemic inflammatory cascade in NEC has not been studied. The aim of the study is to characterise, in vitro, mucosal and systemic T-helper type 1/ type 2 (Th1/Th2) cytokine responses in NEC to mitogen and cow's milk protein (CMP) stimulation.