RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Absence of lysozyme (muramidase) in the intestinal Paneth cells of newborn infants with necrotising enterocolitis. JF Journal of Clinical Pathology JO J Clin Pathol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists SP 512 OP 514 DO 10.1136/jcp.51.7.512 VO 51 IS 7 A1 H B Coutinho A1 H C da Mota A1 V B Coutinho A1 T I Robalinho A1 A F Furtado A1 E Walker A1 G King A1 Y R Mahida A1 H F Sewell A1 D Wakelin YR 1998 UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/51/7/512.abstract AB AIM: To determine immunocytochemically whether preterm and newborn infants with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) show differences in numbers of lysozyme positive Paneth cells compared with normal controls, and to relate the findings to the possibility that lysozyme deficiency may facilitate the bacterial infections thought to be associated with this condition. METHODS: Tissues from 10 infants with NEC and from 11 matched controls were sectioned and stained immunocytochemically for lysozyme. Differences in the numbers of Paneth cells and degree of lysozyme positivity in the tissues were assessed. RESULTS: Tissues from NEC patients showed no, or very few, lysozyme positive Paneth cells, whereas controls showed strong positive staining. CONCLUSIONS: A deficiency or developmental defect in Paneth cells, resulting in an absence of lysozyme, may render the intestine more susceptible to bacterial infection, allowing organisms to adhere and translocate across the mucosa. Such enhancement of infection may contribute to the pathogenesis of NEC.