The Relationship Between Sleep Disturbance and Disease Activity in Pediatric Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective cross sectional study was to assess the prevalence of sleep disturbance in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including the relationships between sleep, inflammatory markers, and disease activity of pediatric patients with IBD. METHODS: Pediatric patients with IBD and parents were enrolled in the study. Patients completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale, and the Adolescent Sleep Wake Scale (ASWS) surveys. Parents completed the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Disease activity for Crohn disease (CD) was determined by the Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index and the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index was used to define disease activity in ulcerative colitis (UC)/indeterminate colitis patients. RESULTS: Fifty-three pediatric patients with IBD (38 CD, 12 UC, and 3 indeterminate colitis) participated in the study. The significant correlations between the CSHQ and Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index (P = 0.002) and the PSQI and Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (P = 0.04) were found. Youth with UC and indeterminate colitis significantly reported more sleep disturbance than patients with CD, (P = 0.03, 0.05, and 0.04; PSQI, Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale, ASWS, respectively). Patients self-reported significantly more sleep disturbance than was observed by parents (P < 0.0001). This study showed the significant correlations between CSHQ score compared to erythrocyte sedimentation rate and albumin (P = 0.001 and 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that increased disease activity is associated with adverse effects on sleep quality. Based on the results of this study, pediatric patients with IBD should be screened for sleep disturbance.

Short article: The endoscopic and histologic findings of infants who have experienced brief resolved unexplained events.

INTRODUCTION: A brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE) describes an event associated with a change in muscle tone, color, respiration, and responsiveness that is unexplained after an appropriate examination. Some infants with higher risk BRUE may undergo endoscopy as part of their evaluation. OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to identify the endoscopic findings in infants who have experienced a higher risk BRUE. We also compared the characteristics, prenatal, natal, and postnatal risk factors between 23 infants who underwent endoscopic evaluation and 23 race-matched/sex-matched/term-matched/preterm-matched infants who did not undergo endoscopic evaluation. METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive study. Infants were identified from a query of medical records using the ICD-10 code for BRUE (R68.13). RESULTS: Of 119 infants with BRUE, 23 infants with higher risk BRUE underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy. Apnea (87%) was the most common presentation of BRUE. Most were female (57%) with a mean age at BRUE presentation of 2.73 months. We found 10 (43.5%) term infants and 13 (56.5%) preterm infants in our study. There were no significant differences in characteristics, prenatal, natal, and postnatal risk factors between the infants who underwent endoscopy and those who did not undergo endoscopy. The most common abnormal endoscopic finding was lymphonodular hyperplasia (LNH) associated with eosinophilia in the rectosigmoid colon. The proportion of females in the LNH group was significantly higher than the non-LNH group. CONCLUSION: Rectosigmoid LNH and eosinophilia, which are associated with milk soy protein intolerance (MSPI), were the most common findings on endoscopic evaluation. Although there is no proof of causation between MSPI and BRUE, MSPI should be considered in the differential diagnosis for higher risk BRUE.

Helicobacter pylori persistence in children: distinguishing inadequate treatment, resistant organisms, and reinfection.

Helicobacter pylori is a worldwide infection that causes chronic gastritis, duodenal ulcers, and malignancy. Transmission of Helicobacter pylori within a family appears to be the predominant mode of contamination. Recurrence of the infection is frequently seen following treatment. Lack of eradication due to either inadequate treatment or resistant bacteria vs. reinfection have been explanations for detection of H. pylori following treatment. In this article we will discuss the concepts of inadequate treatment vs. resistant infection and reinfection as causes of persistent H. pylori infection.

Variation in care in pediatric Crohn disease.

OBJECTIVES: Variation in medical care can be a barrier to improving clinical outcomes. We aim to describe the variation in care of Crohn disease as provided by a broad sample of pediatric gastroenterologists. METHODS: Two hundred forty-six Crohn disease patients of 93 pediatric gastroenterologists from 48 practice sites starting treatment with either thiopurine or infliximab were studied. We assessed variation in diagnostic testing that had been performed to establish the diagnosis of Crohn disease and to assess the phenotype, extent, and severity of disease. We also assessed variation in initial thiopurine and infliximab dosage and in nutritional therapy. RESULTS: Diagnostic studies in which care was uniform included complete blood count, performed in 100% of patients, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and colonoscopy in 96%, and upper endoscopy in 89%. However, imaging of the small bowel had not been performed in 19%, and a stool test for pathogens had not been performed in 29%. Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) had been measured in 61% of patients before treatment with a thiopurine; in 85%, TPMT was normal. Nonetheless, even when TPMT was normal, 40% of patients received an initial dose of thiopurine that was lower than recommended. Testing for tuberculosis before initiating treatment with infliximab was not performed in 30%. In addition, 36% of severely underweight patients were not receiving a multivitamin supplement, supplemental formula, or tube feeding. CONCLUSIONS: There is variation in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in the management of pediatric Crohn disease, and gaps exist between recommended and actual care.

Histopathology of ulcerative colitis in initial rectal biopsy in children.

Definitive histologic diagnosis of ulcerative colitis relies upon mucosal architectural distortion and inflammation in the appropriate clinical setting. Although crypt branching, atrophy, and loss are usually present in first biopsies from adults with ulcerative colitis, it has been our impression that features of chronicity are often lacking in first biopsies from children. To test this hypothesis, initial rectal biopsies and follow-up biopsies and/or colonic resections from 53 children (age 15 months to 17 years) and 38 adults (age 21-76 years) with ulcerative colitis were examined in a blinded fashion for villiform surface, crypt atrophy, branching crypts, lamina propria inflammation, crypt abscesses, cryptitis, and basal plasma cells. Mucosal architecture was classified as normal, focally abnormal, or diffusely abnormal. Medical records were reviewed for confirmatory evidence of ulcerative colitis and for duration of symptoms before biopsy. In 87 of 91 biopsies, the lamina propria contained a mixed inflammatory infiltrate. Crypt abscesses and cryptitis were common in both groups. Initial biopsies from children were less likely to show diffuse architectural abnormalities (17 of 53, 32.1%) compared with biopsies from adults (22 of 38, 57.9% p <0.05). Duration of symptoms before diagnosis was significantly shorter in children (mean 17.5 weeks) compared with adults (mean 54.9 weeks). In summary, initial rectal biopsies from children with ulcerative colitis are less likely to show diagnostic mucosal architectural distortion than biopsies from adults. This difference may be related to a shorter duration of symptoms before biopsy.

Ulcerative colitis in children: medical management.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder of the colonic mucosa of unknown etiology. The inflammatory process involves the mucosa and submucosa in a continuous segment of bowel with rectal involvement in almost all cases. Since its etiology is unknown, therapy is directed at modulating the inflammatory response in order to control symptoms and to prevent relapses. 5-aminosalicylates and corticosteroids have been the most widely used therapeutic agents for treatment of ulcerative colitis. Recently, experience has been gained with the use of other immunomodulators, such as mercaptopurine, azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus, in pediatric patients. Colectomy is indicated in patients with severe colitis who do not respond to intensive medical therapy. The care of children with ulcerative colitis not only involves control of symptoms from gastrointestinal and extraintestinal manifestations, but also optimizing growth and development. The complications of chronic inflammation and long-term medical therapy must be weighed against the risks and benefits of surgery for children and adolescents with this condition.