Those in the fulminant NEC group were more likely to have the following clinical features: sepsis preceding NEC (P<0.001), abdominal distention (P<0.001), bowel sound disappearance (P = 0.001), leukopenia or neutropenia (P<0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP) <10 mg/L (P = 0.003), procalcitonin (PCT) < 2 μg/L (P<0.001), pH ≤7.2 (P<0.001), and radiographic evidence of pneumoperitoneum (P<0.001) or seroperitoneum on ultrasonography (P = 0.017). Here, CRP is linked to neutropenia.