Huw Jenkins

Guidelines for the management of inflammatory bowel disease in children in the United Kingdom.

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The changing clinical presentation of coeliac disease

Background: There has been a growing recognition that coeliac disease is much more common than previously recognised, and this has coincided with the increasingly widespread use of serological testing. Aim: To determine whether the age at presentation and the clinical presentation of coeliac disease have changed with the advent of serological testing. Methods: A 21-year review of prospectively recorded data on the mode of presentation of biopsy confirmed coeliac disease in a single regional centre. Presenting features over the past 5 years were compared with those of the previous 16 years. Between 1983 and 1989 (inclusive), no serological testing was undertaken; between 1990 and 1998, antigliadin antibody was used with occasional use of antiendomysial antibody and antireticulin antibody. From 1999 onwards, anti-tissue transglutaminase was used. Results: 86 patients were diagnosed over the 21-year period: 50 children between 1999 and 2004 compared with 25 children between 1990 and 1998 and 11 children between 1983 and 1989. The median age at presentation has risen over the years. Gastrointestinal manifestations as presenting features have decreased dramatically. In the past 5 years, almost one in four children with coeliac disease was diagnosed by targeted screening. Conclusion: This study reports considerable changes in the presentation of coeliac disease—namely, a decreased proportion presenting with gastrointestinal manifestations and a rise in the number of patients without symptoms picked up by targeted screening. Almost one in four children with coeliac disease is now diagnosed by targeted screening. Most children with coeliac disease remain undiagnosed. Paediatricians and primary care physicians should keep the possibility of coeliac disease in mind and have a low threshold for testing, so that the potential long-term problems associated with untreated coeliac disease can be prevented.

Joint BSPGHAN and Coeliac UK guidelines for the diagnosis and management of coeliac disease in children

The revised BSPGHAN guidelines for the diagnosis and management of coeliac disease represent an important shift in diagnostic strategy, aimed at simplifying and shortening the diagnostic process in selected cases. Guidance is given concerning the indications for testing for coeliac disease, which is still significantly underdiagnosed in the UK. While screening data suggest a likely incidence of 1 in 100 persons, only 10%–20% of this figure is currently being diagnosed.The BSPGHAN guidelines follow the new ESPGHAN guidelines in overall diagnostic strategy, while providing more didactic stratagems, which should be of assistance for paediatricians in specialties other than gastroenterology.

The requirements and barriers to successful transition of adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease: Differing perceptions from a survey of adult and paediatric gastroenterologists

BACKGROUND AND AIM Preliminary data highlight the importance of appropriate transition for successful transfer of adolescents with IBD from paediatric to adult care. The aim of this study was to identify both the perceived needs of adolescent IBD patients and the barriers to successful transition from the perspective of professionals involved in their care. METHODS A postal questionnaire was distributed to UK adult and paediatric gastroenterologists with an interest in IBD. The questionnaire utilised closed questions as well as ranked items on the importance of the various competencies of adolescents with IBD required for successful transition. RESULTS Response rate of 62% and 49% for paediatric and adult gastroenterologists respectively was achieved. A structured transition service was perceived as very important by 80% paediatric compared to 47% adult gastroenterologists (p=0.001). A higher proportion of adult than paediatric gastroenterologists identified inadequacies in the preparation of adolescents for transfer (79% and 42%, p=0.001). The main areas of perceived deficiency in preparation identified were patient lack of knowledge about the condition and treatment, lack of self advocacy and co-ordination of care. Lack of resources, clinical time, and a critical mass of patients were the factors ranked highest by both groups as barriers to transition care. Both adult (65%) and paediatric gastroenterologists (62%) highlighted suboptimal training in adolescent medicine for adult gastroenterologists. CONCLUSIONS This survey highlights differences in the perception of adult and paediatric gastroenterologists in the management of transition care and perceived competencies for adolescents with IBD. Lack of training and inadequate resources are the main barriers identified for development of a successful transition service.

Polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolytes for chronic constipation in children: a double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolytes (PEG+E) for the treatment of chronic constipation in children. Design: Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial, with two 2-week treatment periods separated by a 2-week placebo washout. Setting: Six UK paediatric departments. Participants: 51 children (29 girls, 22 boys) aged 24 months to 11 years with chronic constipation (lasting ⩾3 months), defined as ⩽2 complete bowel movements per week and one of the following: pain on defaecation on 25% of days; ⩾25% of bowel movements with straining; ⩾25% of bowel movements with hard/lumpy stools. 47 children completed the double blind treatment. Main outcome measures: Number of complete defaecations per week (primary efficacy variable), total number of complete and incomplete defaecations per week, pain on defaecation, straining on defaecation, faecal incontinence, stool consistency, global assessment of treatment, adverse events and physical examination. Results: The mean number of complete defaecations per week was significantly higher for children on PEG+E than on placebo (3.12 (SD 2.05) v 1.45 (SD 1.20), respectively; p<0.001). Further significant differences in favour of PEG+E were observed for total number of defaecations per week (p = 0.003), pain on defaecation (p = 0.041), straining on defaecation (p<0.001), stool consistency (p<0.001) and percentage of hard stools (p = 0.001). Treatment related adverse events (all mild or moderate) occurred in similar numbers of children on PEG+E (41%) and placebo during treatment (45%). Conclusions: PEG+E is significantly more effective than placebo, and appears to be safe and well tolerated in the treatment of chronic constipation in children.

The incidence of childhood inflammatory bowel disease in Wales

Abstract A prospective study was undertaken throughout Wales over the period from 1 January 1995 to 30 March 1997, to determine the incidence of childhood inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Thirty-eight (24 male) new cases of IBD were reported. Twenty (16 male) of the reported cases had Crohns disease, 11 (5 male) had ulcerative colitis (UC) and 7 (3 male) indeterminate colitis. Crohns disease occurred four times more often in boys than girls, whereas there was no sex difference in the incidence for UC and indeterminate colitis. The median age at presentation was 12 (range 1.5–16) years and there was no difference in the age of presentation or the duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis in any of the types of IBD. Conclusion The overall incidence (95% confidence intervals) for IBD in Wales was 2.6 (1.87–3.48) cases per 100,000 per year. The incidence for Crohns disease was 1.36 (0.86–2.04) cases per 100,000 per year, for UC 0.75 (0.39–1.28) cases per 100,000 per year and for indeterminate colitis 0.48 (0.2–0.92) cases per 100,000 per year.

Fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin as noninvasive markers of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: To evaluate whether fecal calprotectin (FC) and fecal lactoferrin (FL) can be used as noninvasive markers in children and young people (4–17 years) with active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients and Methods: Stool samples were collected from 3 groups of children: those with active IBD, control individuals with other gastrointestinal (GI) diseases (GI control) and control individuals with no GI disease (non-GI control). The number of patients for the FC assay was as follows: IBD = 26, GI control = 30, non-GI control = 25. The number of patients for the FL assay was as follows: IBD = 24, GI control = 26, non-GI = 24. FC and FL were measured by use of enzyme-linked immunoassays. Results: The median concentrations of FC and FL in isolation, and their interaction, were significantly higher in the IBD group than in the GI and non-GI control groups (P < 0.001). Although the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity for FC, FL, and FC × FL interaction were significantly better than chance, FL consistently had the lowest area under the curve, and FC × FL consistently had the highest area under the curve. Conclusions: FC and FL are both significantly elevated in children with IBD, and the interaction of these 2 biomarkers may produce a better initial diagnostic test compared with their use in isolation.

Natural history of paediatric inflammatory bowel diseases over a 5-year follow-up: a retrospective review of data from the register of paediatric inflammatory bowel diseases.

Objectives: The natural history of paediatric inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) is poorly understood. We aim to describe the disease course in this cohort and generate prognostic information for patients and clinicians. Materials and Methods: Patient records from 6 tertiary paediatric gastroenterology centres were reviewed to generate data concerning original diagnosis, change in diagnosis, family history, surgical interventions, growth, and presence of extragastrointestinal manifestations. Results: Data were collected on 116 children with Crohn disease (CD), 74 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 20 with indeterminate colitis (IC), followed for a mean period of 3.42, 3.3, and 2.9 years from date of diagnosis, respectively. A male predominance is demonstrated in CD. Revision of diagnosis in patients with IC is mainly to UC, with most children receiving a definitive diagnosis within 2 years of initial presentation. Of the children with UC, 17.6% underwent 1 or more major operations with a median time to surgery of 1.92 years. Of children with CD, 11.6% underwent 1 or more major intraabdominal procedures with a median time to surgery of 1.83 years. We recorded a positive family history in 2.7%, 8.2%, and 10% of cases for CD, UC, and IC, respectively. For both boys and girls with CD, but only for boys with UC, height standard deviation score became more negative over time. Conclusions: This retrospective study quantifies certain distinctions between IBDs diagnosed in paediatric and adult populations. We document a trend toward male predominance in children with CD. We also note impaired linear growth in children with CD, whereas it appears maintained in girls with UC. We also have recorded a low incidence of IBDs in the families of this cohort and suggest that environmental influences may be of greater importance. We document that major intraabdominal surgery may be required in about 15% of patients with either UC or CD within 2 years of diagnosis, and that the majority of those diagnosed initially with IC will be reclassified as either UC or CD within 2 years.

Incidence and presentation of coeliac disease in South Glamorgan.

Objective To determine the incidence and presenting features of coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis in the population of South Glamorgan between 1981 and 1995. Design Retrospective case‐finding study using pathology, dietetic and clinical records, data from hospital activity analysis, general practice records and a Coeliac Society questionnaire. Incidence rates were calculated using the Registrar Generals mid‐year estimates. Setting Regional hospitals, South Glamorgan, Wales. Participants All new cases of coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis. Main outcome measures Crude incidence rates (per quinquennia) for both children and adults. Age, sex, family history, symptoms at the time of diagnosis and time to diagnosis from symptom onset. Results In total, 137 cases of coeliac disease (27 children, 110 adults) and 19 cases of dermatitis herpetiformis were detected. In adults with coeliac disease, incidence rates have risen from 1.32 to 3.08 per 100 000 with a 3:1 female predominance. Almost 50% of adults were over fifty years old when diagnosed and 25% had no abdominal symptoms. In children, the disease incidence has remained stable but with a rising trend in mean age at diagnosis and higher likelihood of atypical symptoms in older children. There has been no change in the incidence of dermatitis herpetiformis. Only 8.3% of all patients had an affected first‐degree relative. Conclusions In contrast to other reports of declining incidence, coeliac disease in children has remained constant in South Glamorgan, but has markedly increased in adults, particularly women. Presentation may be at any age, often with atypical symptoms, which may delay diagnosis. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 12:345‐349

Experience of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in children with Crohn’s disease

Enteral nutrition is an important mode of treatment for Crohn’s disease in children. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy has been little used, even though it can facilitate the administration of an unpalatable elemental diet to an anorexic, undernourished patient. Its use is reported in 10 children with Crohn’s disease. The gastrostomy was found to be more acceptable than a nasogastric tube and was associated with only minor complications. As a consequence of improved delivery of enteral nutrition, in the year after the insertion of the gastrostomy there was a reduction in prednisolone dosage in all patients, with six patients being able to stop prednisolone completely. The SD score for height also improved significantly. It is suggested that percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is both useful and safe in the management of Crohn’s disease in children, particularly when compliance with an elemental diet is likely to be poor.