In a small pilot study of Bell stage 1 (suspected) NEC, infants who received enteral G-CSF for 5 days in addition to standard treatment of withheld enteral nutrition, antibiotics, and gastric decompression had reduced incidence of progression to stage II or III NEC and faster clinical and radiologic resolution resulting in reduced duration of systemic therapy and reduced length of hospital stay [110]. Here, CSF3 is linked to necrotizing enterocolitis.