1
|
Sturgeon JP, Tome J, Dumbura C, Majo FD, Ngosa D, Mutasa K, Zyambo K, Besa E, Chandwe K, Kapoma C, Mwapenya B, Nathoo KJ, Bourke CD, Ntozini R, Chasekwa B, Smuk M, Bwakura-Dangarembizi M, Amadi B, Kelly P, Prendergast AJ. Inflammation and epithelial repair predict mortality, hospital readmission, and growth recovery in complicated severe acute malnutrition. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadh0673. [PMID: 38416844 PMCID: PMC7615785 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adh0673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the most high-risk form of undernutrition, particularly when children require hospitalization for complications. Complicated SAM is a multisystem disease with high inpatient and postdischarge mortality, especially in children with comorbidities such as HIV; however, the underlying pathogenesis of complicated SAM is poorly understood. Targeted multiplex biomarker analysis in children hospitalized with SAM (n = 264) was conducted on plasma samples, and inflammatory markers were assessed on stool samples taken at recruitment, discharge, and 12 to 24 and 48 weeks after discharge from three hospitals in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Compared with adequately nourished controls (n = 173), we found that at baseline, complicated SAM was characterized by systemic, endothelial, and intestinal inflammation, which was exacerbated by HIV infection. This persisted over 48 weeks despite nutritional recovery and was associated with children's outcomes. Baseline plasma concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor, glucagon-like peptide-2, and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein were independently associated with lower mortality or hospital readmission over the following 48 weeks. Following principal components analysis of baseline biomarkers, higher scores of a component representing growth factors was associated with greater weight-for-height z score recovery and lower mortality or hospital readmission over the 48 weeks. Conversely, components representing higher gut and systemic inflammation were associated with higher mortality or hospital readmission. These findings highlight the interplay between inflammation, which damages tissues, and growth factors, which mediate endothelial and epithelial regeneration, and support further studies investigating interventions to reduce inflammation and promote epithelial repair as an approach to reducing mortality and improving nutritional recovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P Sturgeon
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Joice Tome
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Cherlynn Dumbura
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Florence D Majo
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Deophine Ngosa
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Kuda Mutasa
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Kanekwa Zyambo
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Ellen Besa
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Kanta Chandwe
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Chanda Kapoma
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Benjamin Mwapenya
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Kusum J Nathoo
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Claire D Bourke
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Robert Ntozini
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Bernard Chasekwa
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Melanie Smuk
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Mutsa Bwakura-Dangarembizi
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Beatrice Amadi
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Paul Kelly
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Andrew J Prendergast
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sturgeon JP, Njunge JM, Bourke CD, Gonzales GB, Robertson RC, Bwakura-Dangarembizi M, Berkley JA, Kelly P, Prendergast AJ. Inflammation: the driver of poor outcomes among children with severe acute malnutrition? Nutr Rev 2023; 81:1636-1652. [PMID: 36977352 PMCID: PMC10639108 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuad030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the most life-threatening form of undernutrition and underlies at least 10% of all deaths among children younger than 5 years in low-income countries. SAM is a complex, multisystem disease, with physiological perturbations observed in conjunction with the loss of lean mass, including structural and functional changes in many organ systems. Despite the high mortality burden, predominantly due to infections, the underlying pathogenic pathways remain poorly understood. Intestinal and systemic inflammation is heightened in children with SAM. Chronic inflammation and its consequent immunomodulation may explain the increased morbidity and mortality from infections in children with SAM, both during hospitalization and in the longer term after discharge. Recognition of the role of inflammation in SAM is critical in considering new therapeutic targets in this disease, which has not seen a transformational approach to treatment for several decades. This review highlights the central role of inflammation in the wide-ranging pathophysiology of SAM, as well as identifying potential interventions that have biological plausibility based on evidence from other inflammatory syndromes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P Sturgeon
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - James M Njunge
- The Childhood Acute Illness & Nutrition Network, Nairobi, Kenya
- KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Claire D Bourke
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Gerard Bryan Gonzales
- Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics Group, Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Ruairi C Robertson
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | | | - James A Berkley
- The Childhood Acute Illness & Nutrition Network, Nairobi, Kenya
- KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Paul Kelly
- is with the Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Andrew J Prendergast
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Phiri TN, Mutasa K, Rukobo S, Govha M, Mushayanembwa P, Mwakamui S, Haider T, Zyambo K, Dumbura C, Tome J, Runodamoto T, Chidamba L, Majo FD, Ngosa D, Chandwe K, Kapoma C, Mwapenya B, Mufukari W, Sturgeon JP, Robertson RC, Smuk M, Ntozini R, Nathoo K, Amadi B, Kelly P, Bwakura-Dangarembizi M, Prendergast AJ, Bourke CD. Severe acute malnutrition promotes bacterial binding over proinflammatory cytokine secretion by circulating innate immune cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh2284. [PMID: 37910623 PMCID: PMC10619937 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh2284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) have high infectious mortality and morbidity, implicating defects in their immune defenses. We hypothesized that circulating innate immune cells from children (0 to 59 months) hospitalized with SAM in Zambia and Zimbabwe (n = 141) have distinct capacity to respond to bacteria relative to adequately nourished healthy controls (n = 92). SAM inpatients had higher neutrophil and monocyte Escherichia coli binding capacity but lower monocyte activation and proinflammatory mediator secretion in response to lipopolysaccharide or heat-killed Salmonella typhimurium than controls. Among SAM cases, wasting severity was negatively associated with cytokine secretion, children with HIV had lower monocyte activation, and the youngest children released the least myeloperoxidase upon stimulation. Inpatient bacterial binding capacity and monocyte activation were associated with higher odds of persistent SAM at discharge, a risk factor for subsequent mortality. Thus, SAM shifts innate immune cell function, favoring bacterial containment over proinflammatory activation, which may contribute to health deficits after discharge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tracy N. Phiri
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition group (TROPGAN), University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Kuda Mutasa
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Sandra Rukobo
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Margaret Govha
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Simutanyi Mwakamui
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition group (TROPGAN), University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Tafhima Haider
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Kanekwa Zyambo
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition group (TROPGAN), University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Cherlynn Dumbura
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Joice Tome
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Leah Chidamba
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Florence D. Majo
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Deophine Ngosa
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition group (TROPGAN), University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Kanta Chandwe
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition group (TROPGAN), University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Chanda Kapoma
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition group (TROPGAN), University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Benjamin Mwapenya
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Wadzanai Mufukari
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Jonathan P. Sturgeon
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | | | - Melanie Smuk
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Robert Ntozini
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Kusum Nathoo
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Beatrice Amadi
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition group (TROPGAN), University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Paul Kelly
- Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition group (TROPGAN), University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Mutsa Bwakura-Dangarembizi
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Andrew J. Prendergast
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Claire D. Bourke
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Odei Obeng‐Amoako GA, Stobaugh H, Wrottesley SV, Khara T, Binns P, Trehan I, Black RE, Webb P, Mwangome M, Bailey J, Bahwere P, Dolan C, Boyd E, Briend A, Myatt MA, Lelijveld N. How do children with severe underweight and wasting respond to treatment? A pooled secondary data analysis to inform future intervention studies. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2022; 19:e13434. [PMID: 36262055 PMCID: PMC9749592 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Children with weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) <-3 have a high risk of death, yet this indicator is not widely used in nutrition treatment programming. This pooled secondary data analysis of children aged 6-59 months aimed to examine the prevalence, treatment outcomes, and growth trajectories of children with WAZ <-3 versus children with WAZ ≥-3 receiving outpatient treatment for wasting and/or nutritional oedema, to inform future protocols. Binary treatment outcomes between WAZ <-3 and WAZ ≥-3 admissions were compared using logistic regression. Recovery was defined as attaining mid-upper-arm circumference ≥12.5 cm and weight-for-height z-score ≥-2, without oedema, within a period of 17 weeks of admission. Data from 24,829 children from 9 countries drawn from 13 datasets were included. 55% of wasted children had WAZ <-3. Children admitted with WAZ <-3 compared to those with WAZ ≥-3 had lower recovery rates (28.3% vs. 48.7%), higher risk of death (1.8% vs. 0.7%), and higher risk of transfer to inpatient care (6.2% vs. 3.8%). Growth trajectories showed that children with WAZ <-3 had markedly lower anthropometry at the start and end of care, however, their patterns of anthropometric gains were very similar to those with WAZ ≥-3. If moderately wasted children with WAZ <-3 were treated in therapeutic programmes alongside severely wasted children, we estimate caseloads would increase by 32%. Our findings suggest that wasted children with WAZ <-3 are an especially vulnerable group and those with moderate wasting and WAZ <-3 likely require a higher intensity of nutritional support than is currently recommended. Longer or improved treatment may be necessary, and the timeline and definition of recovery likely need review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather Stobaugh
- Action Against Hunger USANew York CityNew YorkUSA,Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Tanya Khara
- Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN)KidlingtonUK
| | | | - Indi Trehan
- Departments of Paediatrics, Global Health, and EpidemiologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Robert E. Black
- Institute for International ProgrammesJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Patrick Webb
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA,Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN)KidlingtonUK
| | - Martha Mwangome
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)Centre for Geographic Medicine Research‐CoastKilifiKenya
| | | | - Paluku Bahwere
- Center for Epidémiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Research (CR2), School of Public HealthUniversité Libre de BruxellesBrusselsBelgium
| | | | - Erin Boyd
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA,USAID/BHAWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - André Briend
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksbergDenmark,Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland
| | | | | |
Collapse
|