Linear growth and circulating insulin-like growth factor I in children with tufting enteropathy receiving long-term TPN

Syndromic (phenotypic) diarrhoea of infancy/tricho-hepato-enteric syndrome

OBJECTIVES

Syndromic diarrhoea/tricho-hepato-enteric syndrome (SD/THE) is a rare congenital syndrome. The main features are intractable diarrhoea of infancy, hair abnormalities, facial dysmorphism, intrauterine growth restriction and immune system abnormalities. It has been linked to abnormalities in two components of the putative human ski complex: SKIV2L and TTC37. The long-term outcome of this syndrome is still unknown. We aim to describe the long-term outcome, in the French cohort of patients born since 1992.

DESIGN

Review of the clinical and biological features of the 15 patients with SD/THE, followed in France and born between 1992 and 2010.

RESULTS

All patients presented typical SD/THE syndrome features, of intractable diarrhoea in infancy requiring parenteral nutrition, a facial dysmorphism with hair abnormalities, and immunological disorders. Half of them also had liver and skin abnormalities. Five children died, among which 3 died due to infections. Probabilities of survival according to the Kaplan-Meier method were 93.3%, 86.7%, 74.3 and 61.9%, respectively at 1 year, 5 years, 10 years and 15 years of age. 3/15 were weaned from parenteral nutrition (PN) with likelihood of weaning being 10% at 5 years and 40% at 10 years. At birth 80% were small for gestational age and the short stature persisted in 60%. Haemophagocytic syndrome was noted in 60% and mild mental retardation was present in 60%.

CONCLUSIONS

SD/THE is a rare disease with high morbidity and mortality. Management should be focused on nutrition and immunological defects.

Growth and bone health in pediatric intestinal failure patients receiving long-term parenteral nutrition

BACKGROUND

Children with chronic intestinal failure (IF) treated with long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) may present with low bone mineral density (BMD). The cause may reflect small body size or suboptimal bone mineralization.

OBJECTIVE

We assessed growth and bone health in children with severe IF.

DESIGN

Height, weight, and fracture history were recorded. The lumbar spine bone mass was measured in 45 consecutive patients (24 male subjects) aged 5-17 y receiving PN for a median of 5 y. BMD and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) [ie, adjusted-for-height SD scores (SDSs)] were calculated.

RESULTS

Diagnoses were short bowel syndrome in 12 patients (27%), intestinal enteropathy in 20 patients (44%), and motility disorder in 13 patients (29%). Mean (±SD) weight, height, and body mass index SDSs were -0.8 ± 1.3, -1.80 ± 1.5, and 0.4 ± 1.3, respectively. The height SDS was less than -2 in 23 children (50%). Patients with enteropathy or intestinal mucosal inflammation (associated with dysmotility or short bowel) were significantly shorter than patients without enteropathy (P = 0.007). The BMD SDS was -1.7 ± 1.6, and the BMAD SDS was -1.4 ± 1.5, independent of primary diagnosis or mucosal inflammation. Nineteen patients (42%) had low BMD (SDS less than -2.0), and 14 patients (31%) had low BMAD. In 25 patients studied at 1-2-y intervals, the BMD SDS fell significantly with time, whereas BMAD declined less, which suggested that a poor bone mineral accretion reflected poor growth. A total of 11 of 37 patients (24%) had nonpathologic fractures (P = 0.3 compared with the general population).

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 50% of children were short, and one-third of children had low BMD and BMAD. Children with enteropathy or intestinal mucosal inflammation are at greatest risk of growth failure. Close nutritional monitoring and bespoke PN should maximize the potential for growth and bone mass.