A safe and efficacious preventive strategy in the high-risk surgical neonate: cycled total parenteral nutrition.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatic dysfunction in patients reliant on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) may benefit from cycled TPN. A concern for neonatal hypoglycemia has limited the use of cycled TPN in neonates less than 1 week of age. We sought to determine both the safety and efficacy of cycled TPN in surgical neonates less than 1 week of age. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on surgical neonates placed on prophylactic and therapeutic cycled TPN from January 2013 to March 2016. Specific emphasis was placed on identifying incidence of direct hyperbilirubinemia and hypoglycemic episodes. RESULTS: Fourteen neonates were placed on cycled TPN; 8 were prophylactically cycled and 6 were therapeutically cycled. Median gestational age was 36 weeks (34, 37). Sixty-four percent (n = 9) had gastroschisis. There was no difference between the prophylactic and therapeutic groups in incidence of hyperbilirubinemia > 2 mg/dL (3 (37%) vs 5 (83%), p = 0.08) or the length of time to development of hyperbilirubinemia [24 days (4, 26) vs 27 days (25, 67), p = 0.17]. Time on cycling was similar though patients who were prophylactically cycled had a shorter overall time on TPN. Three (21%) infants had documented hypoglycemia, but only one infant became clinically symptomatic. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic TPN cycling is a safe and efficacious nutritional management strategy in surgical neonates less than 1 week of age with low rates of hypoglycemia and a shorter total course of TPN; however, hepatic dysfunction did not appear to be improved compared to therapeutic cycling.

Outcomes from a 12-Week, Open-Label, Multicenter Clinical Trial of Teduglutide in Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine safety and pharmacodynamics/efficacy of teduglutide in children with intestinal failure associated with short bowel syndrome (SBS-IF). STUDY DESIGN: This 12-week, open-label study enrolled patients aged 1-17 years with SBS-IF who required parenteral nutrition (PN) and showed minimal or no advance in enteral nutrition (EN) feeds. Patients enrolled sequentially into 3 teduglutide cohorts (0.0125 mg/kg/d [n = 8], 0.025 mg/kg/d [n = 14], 0.05 mg/kg/d [n = 15]) or received standard of care (SOC, n = 5). Descriptive summary statistics were used. RESULTS: All patients experienced ≥1 treatment-emergent adverse event; most were mild or moderate. No serious teduglutide-related treatment-emergent adverse events occurred. Between baseline and week 12, prescribed PN volume and calories (kcal/kg/d) changed by a median of -41% and -45%, respectively, with 0.025 mg/kg/d teduglutide and by -25% and -52% with 0.05 mg/kg/d teduglutide. In contrast, PN volume and calories changed by 0% and -6%, respectively, with 0.0125 mg/kg/d teduglutide and by 0% and -1% with SOC. Per patient diary data, EN volume increased by a median of 22%, 32%, and 40% in the 0.0125, 0.025, and 0.05 mg/kg/d cohorts, respectively, and by 11% with SOC. Four patients achieved independence from PN, 3 in the 0.05 mg/kg/d cohort and 1 in the 0.025 mg/kg/d cohort. Study limitations included its short-term, open-label design, and small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: Teduglutide was well tolerated in pediatric patients with SBS-IF. Teduglutide 0.025 or 0.05 mg/kg/d was associated with trends toward reductions in PN requirements and advancements in EN feeding in children with SBS-IF. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT01952080; EudraCT: 2013-004588-30.

Use of the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index to follow liver fibrosis progression in infants with short gut.

BACKGROUND: Infants with parenteral nutrition dependence may develop liver dysfunction and progress to liver failure requiring transplantation. The aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) has good correlation with liver fibrosis progression in adults. This study applies APRI scoring to parenteral nutrition-dependant, short-gut infants to determine hepatic fibrosis progression. METHODS: Laboratory values and biopsies were collected from initial intestinal resection (time 0) up to transplantation (end). Fibrosis scoring ranged from F0 (normal) to F4 (cirrhosis). Children were divided into 3 groups: (1) isolated intestine; and combined liver/intestine with gestational age (2) 34 weeks or greater and (3) 30 weeks or less. Liver function values over time, including calculated APRI, were analyzed as predictors of fibrosis. RESULTS: Fifteen children who had 33 biopsies were included. Median APRI by fibrosis grade was F < or = 2: 1.88, F3: 3.23, and F4: 14.16 (P < .01). Median APRI at transplant by study group was (1) isolated intestine: 2.47, (2) liver/intestine 35 weeks or longer EGA: 14.16, and (3) liver/intestine 30 weeks or less EGA: 14.74 (P = .04). CONCLUSION: Progression of APRI up to 60 days initially demonstrates similar values among study groups, but over time the score distinguishes those children with impending liver cirrhosis and differentiates fibrosis grade and study group.

Comparison of oral prednisone and topical fluticasone in the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis: a randomized trial in children.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although eosinophilic esophagitis is recognized increasingly, outcome data guiding therapy are limited. We conducted a prospective randomized trial comparing oral prednisone (P) and swallowed fluticasone (F) for histologic and clinical response. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive P or F for 4 weeks, followed by an 8-week weaning protocol. Esophageal histology was evaluated at baseline and after 4 weeks of therapy. Clinical assessments were performed at weeks 0, 4, 12, 18, and 24. RESULTS: Eighty patients with eosinophilic esophagitis were enrolled: 40 in the P arm and 40 in the F arm. Histologic improvement was seen in 30 of 32 P and 34 of 36 F patients, with a greater degree of histologic improvement in the P group. All P and 35 of 36 F patients were free of presenting symptom(s) at week 4. Symptom relapse was seen in 45% of patients by week 24. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no difference between P and F with regard to relapse rate (P = .7399). No significant difference in time to relapse was found between groups (P = .2529). Systemic adverse effects were noted in 40% of the P arm, whereas esophageal candidal overgrowth was seen in 15% of the F arm. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic and topical corticosteroids were effective in achieving initial histologic and clinical improvement. P resulted in a greater degree of histologic improvement, without evidence of an associated clinical advantage over F in terms of symptom resolution, relapse rates, or time to relapse. Symptom relapse was common to both groups upon therapy discontinuation, highlighting the need for maintenance treatment protocols.