Factors Contributing to Treatment Outcome of Functional Constipation in Children

소아 기능성 변비의 치료에 영향을 미치는 인자

  • Kim, Hyung-Seok (Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Hong, You-Rha (Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Kosin University) ;
  • We, Ju-Hee (Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Park, Jae-Hong (Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Pusan National University)
  • 김형석 (부산대학교 의학전문대학원 소아과학교실) ;
  • 홍유라 (고신대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실) ;
  • 위주희 (부산대학교 의학전문대학원 소아과학교실) ;
  • 박재홍 (부산대학교 의학전문대학원 소아과학교실)
  • Received : 2010.02.19
  • Accepted : 2010.03.08
  • Published : 2010.03.30

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and factors contributing to treatment outcome for chronic functional constipation in children. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of patients with constipation, who visited the inpatient or outpatient clinic of the Department of Pediatrics of Pusan National University Hospital, between January 1998 and December 2007. The clinical features, outcomes, and factors affecting the treatment response according to the main drug (lactulose vs. PEG 4000) were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Two hundred forty children (142 males and 98 females) were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 51.2${\pm}$37.9 months. The duration of symptoms was 32.6${\pm}$33.7 months. The accompanying symptoms were as follows: encopresis, 91 (30.4%); abdominal pain, 76 (31.6%); and blood-tinged stool, 37 (15.4%). The treatment response was achieved earlier in females (p<0.001), patients with accompanying symptoms (p<0.05), and patients treated with PEG 4000 (p=0.001). The duration of symptoms (p<0.05) and stool frequency before treatment (p<0.05) were related to a delayed treatment response. Relapse occurred in 7 children, all of whom were treated successfully later. Conclusion: Factors contributing to treatment response are female gender, accompanying symptoms, duration of symptoms, and stool frequency before treatment. PEG 4000 is superior to lactulose in response time and taken into consideration as a primary drug for the treatment of functional constipation of children. Early treatment and sufficient treatment time may also be important factors to achieve an early response and prevent relapse.

목 적: 소아에서 기능성 변비는 흔히 볼 수 있는 질환이지만 임상적 경과 및 치료 반응에 대한 대단위 연구가 없는 실정이다. 이 질환의 임상적 특징과 치료에 영향을 미치는 인자들을 알아보고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법: 1998년 1월부터 2007년 12월까지 부산대학교 병원 소아과에서 변비로 치료를 받았던 500명 중 Iowa 기준에 따라 기능성 변비로 1개월 이상 치료를 받고 경과관찰이 가능하였던 240명의 환자를 대상으로 후향적조사를 하였다. 변비의 주 치료제로 락툴로스를 복용한 군(145명)과 PEG (polyethylene glycol)를 복용한 군(95명)으로 나누었다. 환자에 따라 magnesium hydroxide, psyllium, bisacodyl, domperidone, 고장성 인산염 관장액등을 병용하였다. 치료 반응은 약물 투여 후 이틀에 1회 이상 통증이 없이 배변을 하는 시점으로 하였고, 치료 반응이 3개월 이상 유지되면 약물을 감량하였다. 결 과: 1) 남자 142명(59.2%), 여자 98명(40.8%)이었고, 발병 시 연령은 18.7${\pm}$21.5개월, 진단 시 연령은 51.2${\pm}$37.9개월이었다. 발병 시 연령은 1세 이하가 94명(39.2%)으로 가장 많았다. 2) 증상 지속 기간은 32.6${\pm}$33.7개월, 치료 전 배변 빈도는 1회/4.8일이었다. 3) 동반 증상은 유분증 91명(30.4%), 복통 76명(31.6%), 혈변37명(15.4%), 식욕저하 23명(9.6%), 복부팽만 18명(7.5%), 구토 14명(5.8%)이었다. 4) 배변 빈도가 락툴로스 투여군 1회/4.6일로 PEG 투여군 1회/5.2일에 비해 짧았던 것을 제외하고 두 군 간에 차이는 없었다. 5) 치료 반응은 여자에서(p<0.001), 동반증상이 있었을 때(p<0.05), PEG 투여군에서(p=0.001) 의미 있게 빨랐으며, 치료 전 증상 지속 기간이 길수록(p<0.05), 배변 빈도가 적을수록(p<0.05) 늦었다. 6) 총 치료 기간은 성별, 증상 발생 나이, 증상 지속 기간, 배변 빈도, 동반 증상, 유분증 유무, 타병원에서의 치료, 민간 요법 시행, 치료 약물의 종류와 무관하였다. 7) 7명(락툴로스군 6명, PEG군 1명)에서 치료 후 재발이 있었으나, 2명을 제외하고 재치료로 완치되었다. 결 론: 여자, 치료 전 증상 지속 기간 및 배변 빈도가 치료 반응에 중요한 인자였고, PEG가 락툴로스에 비해 치료 반응 시간이 짧았기 때문에 1차 치료 약제로 고려해 볼 수 있겠다. 총 치료 기간에 영향을 미치는 요인은 없었으나, 조기 치료가 치료 반응 및 치료 기간을 단축할 수 있으리라 판단된다.

Keywords

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