We enrolled 137 cases and divided them into three groups, including a control group (group A), critical illness without GIF (group B), and critical illness with GIF (group C). The serum TFF3 concentration was determined by ELISA and compared among the groups.
Serum TFF3 concentrations measured before the occurrence of GIF in group C were significantly higher than in groups A and B (P < 0.01). Under the conditions of GIF in group C, serum TFF3 concentration was significantly related to the gastrointestinal tract function score (r = −0.712). Cox's proportional hazards model analysis showed that the serum TFF3 concentrations at the time of occurrence of GIF, and 48 hours later, could be used as prognostic factors in critically ill pediatric patients with GIF (r = 1.443 and 1.872, respectively).
TFF3 may play an important role in predicting GIF in pediatric critical illness and has a protective function in the mucosal repair process.