• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 2016

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in pediatric-onset Crohn's disease patients who had failed treatment with infliximab. Methods: In this retrospective study, patients included were those who had been diagnosed with Crohn's disease before 18 years old, and had received treatment with adalimumab after infliximab failure. The efficacy of adalimumab treatment was investigated at 1 month and 1 year, and adverse events that had occurred during treatment with adalimumab were explored. Results: Ten patients were included in this study. The median duration from diagnosis to adalimumab treatment was 5.5 years (range: 2.4-7.9 years). At 1 month after adalimumab initiation, 80% (8/10) of patients showed clinical response, and 40% (4/10) achieved clinical remission. At 1 year, 71% (5/7) of patients showed clinical response, and 43% (3/7) were under clinical remission. Among the total included patients, 5 patients (50%) showed clinical response at 1 year. Primary non-response to adalimumab was observed in 2 patients (20%), and secondary failure to adalimumab was observed in 3 patients (30%) during 1 year treatment with adalimumab. No serious adverse event had occurred during adalimumab treatment. Conclusion: Adalimumab was effective for 1 year without serious adverse events in half of pediatric-onset Crohn's disease patients who had failed treatment with infliximab.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2016

Purpose: We performed to reveal the association between the Helicobacter pylori infection and body weight among children. Methods: Out retrospective study included patients who underwent the H. pylori immunoglobulin G testing at Konyang University Hospital between March 2011 and June 2014. These patients were classified as seropositive (28 boys, 27 girls; mean age: $9.89{\pm}3.28years$) or seronegative (55 boys, 54 girls; mean age: $9.84{\pm}3.02years$). Next, we compared various characteristics between the seropositive and negative groups, as well as between obese children (body weight ${\geq}90th$ percentile) and non-obese children (body weight <90th percentile). Furthermore, we compared the change in body weight after 2 months of treatment with amoxicillin, clarithromycin and omeprazole among the 55 seropositive children (14 treated children and 41 non-treated children). Results: There were no differences in the weights and laboratory data for the 55 seropositive children and 109 seronegative children (weight; $40.96{\pm}18.11kg$ vs. $36.85{\pm}13.72kg$, respectively; p=0.14). And, there was no difference in the prevalence of H. pylori infection among the 29 obese and 135 non-obese children (p=0.581). However, after 2 months of eradication, the 14 treated patients exhibited a significant weight gain ($+0.91{\pm}0.52kg$), compared to the 41 non-treated patients ($-0.29{\pm}1.16kg$, p=0.025). Conclusion: Our findings present that obesity was not associated with the H. pylori infection, although H. pylori eradication led to significant increase in body weight.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.81-85
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• 2007

Colorectal carcinomas occur primarily in elderly people and are rare in children. Unlike adult colorectal carcinomas, the overall prognosis is very poor because of the usual delay in diagnosis and advanced stages at presentation or initial diagnosis, and a high incidence of aggressive tumor pathology such as mucinous adenocarcinoma. Colon cancer should not be excluded in children only based on age or barium enema results. Therefore, colonoscopy should be performed in pediatric patients with unexplained rectal bleeding and abdominal pain. We report a rare case of a child with a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon in a 12-year-old boy, who presented with an abdominal mass and abdominal pain and review the medical literature.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.98-103
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• 2007

An 8-year-old boy presented with abdominal pain and poor oral intake for two months. Serum amylase and lipase levels were elevated. CT of the abdomen and chest X-ray showed two pseudocysts at the pancreatic uncinate process, pancreatitis with a parenchymal defect, a large amount of ascites, and a right pleural effusion. MR cholangiography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopanreaticography revealed a pancreatic duct disruption. The patient was successfully treated with a chest tube placement and percutaneous drainage. After surgery, his general condition improved; the serum level of amylase normalized and the pleural effusion resolved. Pancreatic injuries are rare in pediatric blunt trauma; however, diagnostic difficulty is common with isolated blunt trauma. Therefore, a high index of suspicion should follow such an injury. We report the case of an 8-year-old boy with pancreas transection, ductal disruption, ascites, and pleural effusion who was successfully treated.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.178-184
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• 2013

Purpose: The clinical presentations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) prior to diagnosis are so diverse or vague that many of them waste time before final diagnosis. This study was undertaken to know the medical history of the pediatric patients until the final diagnosis could be reached. Methods: The medical records of all pediatric patients who were diagnosed with IBD (Crohn's disease [CD] in 14 children, ulcerative colitis [UC] in 17) during the last 13 years were reviewed. We investigated the length of the diagnostic time lag, chief clinical presentation, and any useful laboratory predictor among the routinely performed examinations. Indeterminate colitis was not included. Results: The mean ages of children at the final diagnosis was similar in both diseases. As for the pre-clinical past history of bowel symptoms in CD patients, 5 were previously healthy, 9 had had 1-3 gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, weight loss, bloody stool, anemia and rectal prolapse. With UC, 9 were previously healthy, 8 had had 1-3 GI symptoms, bloody stool, anorexia. The average diagnostic time lag with CD was 3.36 months, and with UC 2.2 months. Body mass index (BMI) and the initial basic laboratory data (white blood cell, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, serum albumin, and serum total protein) were lower in CD, statistically significant only in BMI. Conclusion: IBD shows diverse clinical symptoms before its classical features, making the patients waste time until diagnosis. It is important to concern possibility of IBD even in the mildly sick children who do not show the characteristic symptoms of IBD.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.162-170
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• 2013

Purpose: To detect major acute gastroenteritis virus (rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, and enteric adenovirus) and non-enteric type of adenovirus (AdV) in the stools of intussusception patients and to investigate the clinical role of detected viruses. Methods: From March 2012 to February 2013, major acute gastroenteritis virus and non-enteric type of AdV were isolated from stool samples that collected from 44 patients treated for intussusception in Chungnam National University Hospital. Patients were divided according to age and isolated virus. Results: Virus was detected in 28 (63%) stool specimens. The virus detection rate was significantly lower in patients aged under 12 months (p = 0.04). Twenty-two patients (78.6%) had non-enteric adenovirus, 4 (14.3%) had norovirus, 1 (3.6%) had sapovirus, and 1 (3.6%) had astrovirus. AdV subgroup C (AdV 1, 2, 5, and 6) comprised the majority with 20 cases (90.9%). A monthly increment-and-decrement pattern of intussusception was similar to that of viral detection in the stool samples. Enema reductions were successful in 39 patients and surgical manual reductions were performed in 5 patients. Virus was detected in 24 patients (61.5%) of enema reduction group and 4 patients (80.0%) of surgical manual reduction group. All of the detected viruses were non-enteric adenovirus subgroup C (AdV 1, 5, and 6) in surgical reduction patients. Conclusions: The virus detection rate was high in the stools of intussusception patients. The pattern of seasonal intussusception occurrence rate was parallel with seasonal these viral detection rate in the stool samples. These findings suggest that viral infection plays an important role in the development of intussusception and further research is warranted.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the frequency and course of adverse events associated with azathioprine treatment in Korean pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: Total of 174 pediatric patients (age range, 1 to 19 years) with inflammatory bowel disease who received azathioprine in order to maintain remission at Samsung Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) from January 2002 through December 2012 were included in this study. Medical records of these subjects were retrospectively reviewed regarding the development of adverse events associated with azathioprine treatment. Results: Ninety-eight patients (56.3%) of 174 patients experienced 136 episodes of adverse events, requiring dose reduction in 31 patients (17.8%), and discontinuation in 18 patients (10.3%). The mean dose of azathioprine that had been initially administered was $1.32{\pm}0.42$ mg/kg/day. Among the adverse reactions, bone marrow suppression developed in 47 patients (27.0%), requiring dose reduction in 22 patients (12.6%) and discontinuation in 8 patients (4.6%). Other adverse events that occurred were gastrointestinal disturbance (15.5%), hair loss (12.1%), pancreatitis (7.5%), arthralgia (6.9%), hepatotoxicity (2.9%), skin rash/allergic reactions (2.9%), headache/dizziness (2.3%), sepsis (0.6%), and oral mucositis (0.6%). Conclusion: Bone marrow suppression, especially leukopenia was most commonly associated with azathioprine treatment in Korean pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients. Close observation for possible adverse events is required in this population with inflammatory bowel diseases who are under treatment with azathioprine.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was performed to review the outcomes of gastrostomy insertion in children at our institute during 10 years. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 236 patients who underwent gastrostomy insertion from October 2005 to March 2015. We used our algorithm to select the least invasive method for gastrostomy insertion for each patient. Long-term follow-up was performed to analyze complications related to the method of gastrostomy insertion. Results: Out of 236 patients, 120 underwent endoscopic gastrostomy, 79 had laparoscopic gastrostomy, and 37 had open gastrostomy procedures. The total major complication rates for endoscopic gastrostomy insertion, laparoscopic gastrostomy insertion, and open gastrostomy were 9.2%, 8.9%, and 8.1%, respectively. The most common major complication was gastroesophageal reflux requiring Nissen fundoplication (3.8%), and other complications included peritonitis (1.3%), hiatal hernia (1.3%), and bowel perforation (0.8%). Gastrostomy removal was successful in 8.6% and 5.0% of patients in the endoscopic and surgical gastrostomy groups, respectively. Gastrocutaneous fistula occurred in 60% of surgically inserted cases, requiring a second operation. Conclusion: This retrospective study was performed to review the outcome of gastrostomy insertion, as well as to introduce an algorithm that can be used for future cases. Further studies should be conducted to make a consensus on choosing the most appropriate method for gastrostomy insertion.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2017

Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency is common in Crohn disease (CD). The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and evaluate the association between vitamin D status and growth outcome in Korean pediatric CD patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, 17 children younger than 18 years old diagnosed with CD were enrolled and their serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) was checked between 2011 and 2015. We categorized the patients into two groups, Group 1 and Group 2. Group 1 included patients with serum 25(OH)D levels below 10 ng/mL, and Group 2 was for patients with a 25(OH)D serum levels between 10 ng/mL and 30 ng/mL. The z-scores for height (Htz), weight (Wtz), and body mass index (BMIz) were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Results: The mean serum 25(OH)D levels of the total 65 CD patients and 17 enrolled patients were $15.64{\pm}6.9ng/mL$ and $13.1{\pm}5.1ng/mL$, respectively. There was no correlation at the beginning of the study between vitamin D level and growth parameters (Htz, Wtz, BMIz) or other variables including laboratory data and Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index. The Htz, Wtz, and BMIz in Group 1 showed no significant improvement at 6 months and 12 months follow-up. In Group 2, Wtz and BMIz showed significant improvements sustained until 12 months of follow-up. Htz showed no significant improvement at 6 months but there was significant improvement at 12 months. Conclusion: It seems that baseline vitamin D status affects growth outcome in pediatric CD.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2017

Purpose: The diagnosis of cow's milk (CM) allergy is a challenge. The Cow's Milk-related-Symptom-Score ($CoMiSS^{TM}$) was developed to offer primary health care providers a reliable diagnostic tool for CM related symptoms. The predictive prospective value of the $CoMiSS^{TM}$ was evaluated in three clinical trials. Methods: Pooled analyses of the three studies were conducted based on regressing the results of the month-1 challenge test on the month-1 $CoMiSS^{TM}$, adjusting for baseline $CoMiSS^{TM}$ using a logistic regression model. In addition a logistic regression model was also fitted to the month-1 challenge test result with the change in $CoMiSS^{TM}$ from baseline as a predictor. Results: Results suggest that infants having a low $CoMiSS^{TM}$ (median, 5) after 1 month dietary treatment free from intact CM protein have a significant risk of having a positive challenge test (odds ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.93; p=0.002). Pooled data suggest that the change in $CoMiSS^{TM}$ from baseline to month-1 can predict CM related symptoms as a confirmed diagnosis according to the challenge test at month-1. However, in order to validate such a tool, infants without CM related symptoms would also need to be enrolled in a validation trial. A concern is that it may not be ethical to expose healthy infants to a therapeutic formula and a challenge test. Conclusion: Pooled data analysis emphasizes that the $CoMiSS^{TM}$ has the potential to be of interest in infants suspected to have CM-related-symptoms. A prospective validation trial is needed.