Bowel Disease In Children Research Articles

AKT answer relating to inflammatory bowel diseases in children

AKT answer relating to inflammatory bowel diseases in children

AKT question relating to inflammatory bowel diseases in children

AKT question relating to inflammatory bowel diseases in children

Inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents

There is an increasing incidence of paediatric inflammatory bowel disease, and the disease is associated with significant physical and psychosocial morbidity. This article, based upon a fictional clinical case scenario, highlights the role of primary care in the recognition, referral and ongoing holistic care of paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Saudi consensus guidance for the diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents.

The management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children and adolescents is challenging. Clear evidence-based guidelines are required for this population. This article provides recommendations for managing IBD in Saudi children and adolescents aged 6-19 years, developed by the Saudi Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Saudi Society of Clinical Pharmacy and the Saudi Gastroenterology Association. All 57 guideline statements are based on the most up-to-date information for the diagnosis and management of pediatric IBD.

Navigating the transition: a multidisciplinary approach to inflammatory bowel disease in children

PurposeA multidisciplinary approach to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has recently demonstrated a positive impact in pediatric patients, reducing dropout rates and facilitating the transition to adult care. Our study aims to evaluate how this approach influences disease activity, dropout rates, and transition.MethodsWe conducted a longitudinal observational study including all patients diagnosed with IBD during pediatric-adolescent age, with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. For each patient, endpoints included therapeutic approach, need for surgery and transition features.ResultsWe included 19 patients: 13 with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and 6 with Crohn’s disease (CD). Most patients required multiple lines of therapy, with over 50% in both groups receiving biological drugs. Compliance was good, with a single dropout in each group (10, 5%). The need for surgery was significantly higher in the CD group compared to the UC group (16% vs. 7.7%, p < 0.01). Mean age at transition was significantly higher in the UC group compared to the CD group (19.2 ± 0.7 years SD vs. 18.3 ± 0.6 years SD, p < 0.05).ConclusionsIn our experience, the multidisciplinary approach to IBD in transition-age patients appears effective in achieving clinical remission, offering the potential to reduce therapeutic dropouts.

Predictors of improvement in disease activity in childhood and adolescent Crohn’s disease: an analysis of age, localization, initial severity and drug therapy — data from the Saxon Registry for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children in Germany (2000–2014)

The escalating worldwide prevalence of Crohn’s disease (CD) among children and adolescents, coupled with a trend toward earlier onset, presents significant challenges for healthcare systems. Moreover, the chronicity of this condition imposes substantial individual burdens. Consequently, the principal objective of CD treatment revolves around rapid inducing remission. This study scrutinizes the impact of age, gender, initial disease localization, and therapy on the duration to achieve disease activity amelioration. Data from the Saxon Pediatric IBD Registry in Germany were analyzed over a period of 15 years. In addition to descriptive methods, logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to identify correlations. Furthermore, survival analyses and Cox regressions were utilized to identify factors influencing the time to improvement in disease activity. These effects were expressed as Hazard Ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals. Data on the clinical course of 338 children and adolescents with CD were available in the registry. The analyses showed a significant correlation between a young age of onset and the severity of disease activity. It was evident that treatment with anti-TNF (Infliximab) was associated with a more favorable prognosis in terms of the time required for improvement in disease activity. Similarly, favorable outcomes were observed with the combination therapies of infliximab with enteral nutrition therapy and Infliximab with immunosuppressants.Conclusion: Our analysis of data from the Saxon Pediatric IBD Registry revealed that the timeframe for improvement of disease activity in pediatric Crohn’s disease is influenced by several factors. Specifically, patient age, treatment modality, and initial site of inflammation were found to be significant factors. The study provides important findings that underline the need for individualized treatment.

The Role of Vitamin D and Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in the Course of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children.

Background: The etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still unclear. Prior studies suggest genetic components that may influence the incidence and severity of the disease. Additionally, it was shown that low levels of serum vitamin D may have an impact on the clinical course of the disease due to its effect on the immunological system. Methods: We aimed to investigate the correlation between the incidence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms (rs11568820, rs10735810, rs1544410, rs7975232, and rs731236, commonly described as Cdx2, FokI, Bsm, ApaI, and TaqI, respectively) and vitamin D concentration with the clinical course of IBD (disease activity, extent of the intestinal lesions). Data were obtained from 62 patients with IBD (34 with Crohn's disease, 28 with ulcerative colitis), aged 3-18 years, and compared with controls (N = 47), aged 8-18 years. Results: Although there was no difference in the incidence of individual genotypes between the study groups (IBD, C) in all the polymorphisms examined, we described a significant increase in the chance of developing IBD for heterozygotes of Cdx2 (OR: 2.3, 95% CI 0.88-6.18, p = 0.04) and BsmI (OR: 2.07, 95% CI 0.89-4.82, p = 0.048) polymorphisms. The mean serum 25OHD level in patients with IBD was significantly higher compared with the controls (19.87 ng/mL vs. 16.07 ng/mL; p = 0.03); however, it was still below optimal (>30 ng/mL). Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between vitamin D level and TaqI in patients with IBD (p = 0.025) and patients with CD (p = 0.03), as well as with the BsmI polymorphism in patients with IBD (p = 0.04) and patients with CD (p = 0.04). A significant correlation was described between the degree of disease activity and genotypes for the FokI polymorphism in patients with UC (p = 0.027) and between the category of endoscopic lesions and genotypes for the Cdx2 polymorphism also in patients with UC (p = 0.046). Conclusions: The results suggest a potential correlation of VDR gene polymorphism with the chance of developing IBD, and the clinical course of the disease requires further studies in larger group of patients. Vitamin D supplementation should be recommended in both children with inflammatory bowel disease and in healthy peers.

Modern View on Very Early Onset and Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Children

Nowadays, an urgent problem of pediatric gastroenterology is the study of inflammatory bowel diseases with very early onset (VEO-IBD), which have unique genetic, clinical, immunological, morphological, and laboratory sings. Early VEO-IBD is usually considered as monogenic disease, especially in combination with congenital immune defects, which leads to difficulties in diagnosis and management this pathology. Despite this, systematization of information about this group of nosological forms of IBD is practically not carried out. This article presents a review of the available information on etiological factors, course variants, and therapeutic options for VEO-IBD.

Beyond the Gut: Extraintestinal Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children and Adolescents

Beyond the Gut: Extraintestinal Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children and Adolescents

Changing epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents

BackgroundThe incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising worldwide, but epidemiological data on children and adolescents are lacking. Understanding the global burden of IBD among children and adolescents is essential for global standardization of methodology and treatment options.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study based on aggregated data. We estimated the prevalence and incidence of IBD in children and adolescents between 1990 and 2019 according to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019). Age-standardized rates (ASRs) and estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were used to compare the burden and trends between different regions and countries.ResultsIn 2019, there were 25,659 new cases and 88,829 prevalent cases of IBD among children and adolescents globally, representing an increase of 22.8% and 18.5%, respectively, compared to 1990. Over the past 30 years, the incidence and prevalence of IBD among children and adolescents have been highest in high SDI regions, with the most significant increases in East Asia and high-income Asia Pacific. At the age level, incidence and prevalence were significantly higher in the 15–19-year-old age group, while the < 5-year-old group showed the most significant increase in incidence and prevalence.ConclusionThe incidence of IBD in children and adolescents is significantly on the rise in some countries and regions, and IBD will remain an important public health issue with extensive healthcare and economic costs in the future. The reported IBD burden in children and adolescents at the global, regional, and national levels will assist in the development of more precise health policies.

Advances in Mendelian randomization studies on autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder with onset in infancy or early childhood. Mendelian randomization (MR) is a statistical method used to infer causal relationships between exposures and outcomes. This article summarizes MR studies related to ASD. Existing research supports a causal relationship between maternal inflammatory bowel disease in children with ASD, parental education levels, screen time exposure, obesity, insomnia, serum transferrin, decreased blood selenium, abnormal signals in brain functional MRI, interleukin-6, phosphodiesterase 2A, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3, mitochondrial ribosomal protein L33, serotonin, and ASD. However, it does not support a causal relationship between parental rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, neonatal jaundice in children with ASD, cytomegalovirus infection, asthma, oral ulcers, vitamin D levels, and ASD. This article reviews the etiological factors related to ASD and MR studies, aiming to explore and deepen the understanding of the pathophysiology of ASD. It provides strong statistical support for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ASD, and offers new methods and strategies for the etiological analysis of complex traits.

Crohn’s disease in patients with Hirschsprung disease and Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis: A review

In the last decade, the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in children has been increasing. Some studies have reported the development of Crohn’s disease in patients with Hirschsprung disease and Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis. Suggestions have been made about the possible causes of the development of Crohn’s-like lesions after intestinal resection in early childhood. This study aimed to summarize information about Hirschsprung-associated Crohn’s disease and Crohn’s-like lesions after surgical treatment of Hirschsprung disease. The search was carried out in scientific databases of eLibrary, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The search time interval was 2000–2023. Fourteen articles dedicated to Hirschsprung-associated Crohn’s disease were identified. Common pathogenesis factors in inflammatory bowel diseases and Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis were identified, such as microbiota disturbance and chronic inflammation. Predisposing factors for pathological immune response to dysbiosis and incidence of enterocolitis included enteric nervous system dysfunction, impaired neuroimmune regulatory mechanisms, general immunological disturbance, and “immaturity” and abnormality of the barrier function of the intestinal mucosa. The “classic form” of Crohn’s disease may not develop in patients with Hirschsprung disease and recurrent attacks of enterocolitis but Crohn’s-like lesions. Persistent functional or organic obstruction after surgical treatment of Hirschsprung disease enhances the negative effect of predisposing factors, leading to chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. Delayed occurrence of Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis is a predisposing factor for the development of chronic inflammation. When Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis occurs repeatedly, endoscopic assessment should be performed for the exclusion of Crohn’s disease and chronic inflammatory changes in the anastomosis area for treatment selection.

P293 Safety and diagnostic yield of wireless video capsule endoscopy in early onset inflammatory bowel disease (EOIBD) in children under the age of 6 years in a tertiary paediatric IBD centre

Abstract Background Wireless video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is a well-established diagnostic tool used in the evaluation of small bowel disease in paediatric IBD. Patients usually swallow the capsule. Young children are rarely able to swallow the capsule and these therefore need to be placed with the help of an OGD and an ACORN device. 2 capsule systems were used: PillCam and MiroCam. The aim of this study was to look at the safety of capsule insertion in children less than 6 years of age and to also look at the diagnostic yield. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of our VCE data base over a 7 year period from April 2016 to August 2023. Results We conducted a retrospective review of our VCE data base over a 7 year period from April 2016 to August 2023. 22 patients (14 male) and 27 capsule episodes were included into the study with a an age range at point of capsule insertion between 2 years and 5 months and 5 years and 8 months (median 5 years). All capsules were inserted with an ACORN device. All patients had a histologically proven diagnosis of EOIBD; during this period 4 patients had 2 VCEs and 1 patient 3 VCEs placed. All patient had genetic tests performed, only 1/24 patients had a monogenic mutation confirmed. 15/27 (56%) of all capsules were normal, 8/27 (30%) showed small bowel ulcerations only, 2/27 (7%) showed both small bowel and colonic ulcerations and 5/27 (19%) showed colitis only. We were able to insert the capsule in all 27 capsule episodes without any complications. All studies were complete with the capsule entering the colon and no capsule got stuck. Conclusion Wireless video capsule endoscopy in early onset inflammatory bowel disease in children under the age of 6 years is safe with a diagnostic yield of around 50%. This modality should be used in the diagnostic pathway of EOIBD.

P858 Real World Outcomes of Dual Advanced Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children and Young Adults

Abstract Background There is mounting interest in dual advanced therapy (DAT), combining 2 biologics or biologics with small molecules, in patients with refractory disease or partial responders. We evaluated the real-world efficacy and safety of DAT in pediatric and young adults with IBD. Methods Single-center, cross-sectional cohort study, conducted between 2018-2023. Primary outcome was DAT remission (clinical (Harvey Bradshaw Index ≤ 4 or partial Mayo Score ≤ 2) and biomarker (C-reactive protein ≤ 5 mg/L and/or fecal calprotectin ≤ 250 ug/g) at first efficacy assessment (T1). Secondary outcomes included remission at T2 if intensification or de-intensification occurred at T1 and T3 remission if re-intensification performed at T2. Failures defined those not achieving remission. Adverse events, surgical and therapy outcomes as of last follow up were evaluated. Descriptive statistics summarized the data. Results 30 patients were included [43% female, 57% CD, median age of 18.3 [15.1-19.8] years, 46% &amp;lt;18 years, and median IBD duration of 5.2 [4.0-6.9] years at DAT start] (Table 1). Of 11 (37%) treated with TOFA + UST, 100% achieved T1 remission. Of the 10 de-intensified at T1, 6 failed at T2, and all 4/6 that re-intensified achieved T3 DAT remission. Of 9 (30%) TOFA + VDZ patients, 6 (67%) achieved T1 remission and of the 3 T1 failures, 1 had colectomy, and 1 of 2 attempting VDZ intensification achieved T2 remission. All 6 with T1 remission de-intensified, but 5 (83%) failed and only 1/5 attempted re-intensification and failed. Of 4 (13%) VDZ + UST patients, 3 (75%) achieved T1 remission and the 1 T1 failure achieved T2 remission after VDZ intensification. The 2/4 de-intensified failed at T2 and none were re-intensified. Of 5 (17%) UPA + UST patients, 4 (80%) achieved T1 DAT remission and the 1 failure achieved T2 remission after UPA intensification. The 1 who de-intensified failed at T2 but in T3 remission post re-intensification. One (3%) VDZ + OZA patient achieved T1 remission and successfully de-intensified to monotherapy OZA at T2. One TOFA + UST patient developed mild leukopenia and responded to TOFA de-intensification, and 1 developed septic arthritis on TOFA +VDZ on prednisone and resumed TOFA once resolved. At last follow-up, 14/30 (47%) patients were on DAT, 11 (37%) changed therapy, 1 of which underwent colectomy and 5 (17%) were on monotherapy (Figure 1). Conclusion The majority of IBD patients treated with DAT achieved clinical and biomarker remission with minimal safety events; however, de-intensification to monotherapy has limited success and supports continuing DAT in more refractory patients. Future studies are needed to guide management.

Vitamin D as a predictor of severe course of inflammatory bowel diseases in children

Background. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) develop in childhood more often, last throughout life, and their frequency is rapidly increasing in industrialized countries. Most researchers identify vitamin D (VD) as a key regulator of gastrointestinal homeostasis, an innate immune response and a biomarker for the activity and severity of IBD. The purpose was to determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency and its relationship with the course of inflammatory bowel diseases in children. Materials and methods. The study included 36 patients: 13 with IBD (main group) and 23 children of the comparison group with irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain. The average age of children was 13.09 ± 2.28 years, with a median of 14.5 years; 63.6 % were boys. Patients with IBD were evaluated for clinical disease manifestations, disease localization (Paris Classification) and disease activity (PCDAI/PUCAI). Irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain were diagnosed based on the Rome IV Criteria. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was assessed by the electrochemiluminescence method (Elecsys Vitamin D total, Cobas). Results. Severe IBD prevailed among the examined children (61.5 %). There was no significant difference in overall body weight and height between the groups, which may be due to the short duration of IBD. However, children with IBD showed a tendency to lower physical development indicators. Significant differences in hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, number of platelets, fecal calprotectin were observed among the studied groups (p &lt; 0.05). The concentration of VD in the blood of the examined children ranged from 39.9 to 10.8 ng/ml, with an average of 21.8 ± 5.8 ng/ml. In 76.9 % of patients with IBD, blood concentration of VD reduced, while only 21.7 % children in the comparison group had its level below the norm. Children with IBD were characterized by significantly lower levels of VD in the blood (average of 16.7 ng/ml). Lower levels of VD were associated with female sex, Chron’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), as well as disease duration of more than 3 years and disease severity. There was an inverse correlation between VD and the degree of IBD activity (CD: r = –0.33; p = 0.01; UC: r = –0.38; p = 0.01) and the severity of the course (CD: r = –0.35; p = 0.01; UC: r = –0.36; p = 0.01), the levels of C-reactive protein (CD: r = –0.39; p = 0.01; UC: r = –0.37; p = 0.01) and fecal calprotectin (CD: r = –0.42; p = 0.01; UC: r = –0.46; p = 0.01). Conclusions. In most children (76.9 %) with inflammatory bowel diseases, the concentration of VD in the blood is significantly lower than in those with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Lower vitamin D levels were associated with female sex, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis, as well as disease duration of more than 3 years, activity level, and severity, supporting the role of vitamin D as a possible predictor of severity of these diseases in childhood.

Effectiveness of enteral nutrition in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases in children: a modern view of the problem

Effectiveness of enteral nutrition in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases in children: a modern view of the problem

Diagnostic delay in inflammatory bowel diseases in children

Introduction. The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children is increasing steadily. The diagnosis is often delayed that can lead to an increased risk of complications and significantly decrease the quality of life in the child. The identification of reasons associated with prolonged diagnostics must bring down healthcare costs, reduce the frequency of surgical interventions and use of biological agents. The aim of our study was to determine the duration of diagnosis and associated factors in IBD children.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The research held at the National Medical Research Center for Children’s Health included the analysis of three hundred sixty four medical records of children diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s Disease (CD). This investigation assessed the time of onset of the first symptoms, the first visit to a doctor, the time of establishing the diagnosis, and the first symptoms. The diagnostic time and delay for all IBD were determined. &#x0D; Results. The study included 286 patients, including 157 CD and 129 UC. The diagnostic delay was 18 months for CD, and 6 months for UC. The manifestation of the disease with extraintestinal symptoms in CD was found to increase the chance of a diagnosis duration of more than 18 months by 8.88 times (95% CI 3.4–23.06, p &lt; 0.001), and in UC — more than 6 months by 4.98 times (95% CI 1.52–16.3, p = 0.009). Moreover, the absence of liquid stools, blood in the stool, low-grade fever, and abdominal pain in CD can lead to an increase in diagnostic time. It was also found that UC boys are diagnosed much longer. &#x0D; Conclusion. CD requires more time to make a diagnosis than UC, which is due to the peculiarity of the clinical course of the di­sease. Despite the fact that a doctor has consulted patients in time, a delay in establishing a diagnosis occurred at the examination stage, so that requires additional alertness from the specialist’s side.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Children: Modern Achievements in Diagnostics and Therapy

Aim: to highlight current trends in the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases in children.Key points. The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease among children has increased significantly over the past three decades. Moreover, these diseases are often characterized by a severe course. At the same time, strategies for diagnosing and treating these patients are being improved: doctors began using high-definition endoscopy and video capsule endoscopy, the determination of fecal calprotectin, biological therapy (infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab, and ustekinumab) and drug monitoring. Particular attention is paid to the role of dietary recommendations.Conclusion. Currently, there has been significant progress in the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases in children.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation attenuates inflammatory bowel disease in children: a proof-of-concept clinical trial

BackgroundVagus nerve stimulation is an investigational anti-inflammatory therapy targeting the nervous system to modulate immune activity. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous auricular VNS (ta-VNS) in patients with pediatric-onset Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC).MethodsParticipants were 10–21 years of age with mild/moderate CD or UC and fecal calprotectin (FC) > 200 ug/g within 4 weeks of study entry. Subjects were randomized to receive either ta-VNS targeting the cymba conchae of the external left ear, or sham stimulation, of 5 min duration once daily for a 2-week period, followed by a cross over to the alternative stimulation for an additional 2 weeks. At week 4, all subjects received ta-VNS of 5 min duration twice daily until week 16. Primary study endpoints were clinical remission, and a ≥ 50% reduction in FC level from baseline to week 16. Heart rate variability measurements and patient-reported outcome questionnaires were completed during interval and week 16 assessments.ResultsTwenty-two subjects were enrolled and analyzed (10 CD, 12 UC). Six of 10 with CD had a wPCDAI > 12.5 and 6/12 with UC had a PUCAI > 10 at baseline, correlating to mild to moderate symptom activity. Among the 12 subjects with active symptomatic disease indices at baseline, clinical remission was achieved in 3/6 (50%) with CD and 2/6 (33%) with UC at week 16. Despite all subjects having FC levels ≥ 200 within 4 weeks of enrollment, five subjects (4 UC, 1 CD) had FC levels < 200 at the baseline visit and were excluded from the FC analysis. Of the remaining 17, median baseline FC was 907 µg/g (IQR 411–2,120). At week 16, 11/17 (64.7%) of those with baseline FC ≥ 200 had a ≥ 50% reduction in FC (95% CI 38.3—85.8). In the UC subjects, there was an 81% median reduction in FC vs baseline (833 µg/g; p = 0.03) while in the CD subjects, median reduction in FC at 16 weeks was 51% (357 µg/g; p = 0.09). There were no safety concerns.ConclusionNoninvasive ta-VNS attenuated signs and symptoms in a pediatric cohort with mild to moderate inflammatory bowel disease.Trial RegistrationNCT03863704—Date of registration 3/4/2019.

Characteristics of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children: A Croatian Single-Centre Retrospective Study.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), encompassing ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), are chronic gastrointestinal disorders often diagnosed in youth, presenting unique features compared to adult-onset cases. We aimed to profile pediatric IBD patients in Croatia through a retrospective analysis of children up to 18 years old diagnosed with IBD at the University Hospital of Split from 1 January 2012, to 31 December 2021, utilizing data collected during hospitalization for diagnosis. Over a decade, 107 children were diagnosed, with 43.9% having UC, 55.1% CD, and 0.9% IBD-unclassified. Median age at diagnosis was 14.1 years, with UC patients being older (14.8 vs. 13.7 years, p = 0.044). Males constituted 60.7% of patients. Median symptom duration was 2.0 months, with CD patients experiencing a longer diagnostic delay (3.0 vs. 2.0 months, p = 0.003). The median incidence rate was 9.89 (95% CI 5.93-13.84) per 100,000 children/year, varying across age groups. Median (IQR) BMI z-score was -0.34 (-0.97-0.45). Common symptoms included diarrhea (60.7%) and abdominal pain (50.5%), with rectal bleeding more prevalent in UC (72.3% vs. 32.2%, p < 0.001). While our study offers valuable insights into pediatric IBD in Croatia, further prospective research is needed to clarify disease progression and development.