Growth retardation in children with ulcerative colitis: the effect of medical and surgical therapy

The growth of 37 children with ulcerative colitis have been analyzed. While conventional growth charts showed only percentile changes in height, height data plotted on Tanner et al.'s growth charts showed increases and decreases in growth velocity. Growth retardation is a prominent complication...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatrics (Evanston) 1975-04, Vol.55 (4), p.459-467
Main Authors: Berger, M, Gribetz, D, Korelitz, B I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Body Weight
Child
Child, Preschool
Colectomy
Colitis, Ulcerative - complications
Colitis, Ulcerative - drug therapy
Colitis, Ulcerative - surgery
Female
Growth
Growth Disorders - etiology
Humans
Hydrocortisone - therapeutic use
Ileostomy
Infant
Male
Prednisone - therapeutic use
Sulfasalazine - therapeutic use
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Summary:The growth of 37 children with ulcerative colitis have been analyzed. While conventional growth charts showed only percentile changes in height, height data plotted on Tanner et al.'s growth charts showed increases and decreases in growth velocity. Growth retardation is a prominent complication of ulcerative colitis with onset on bowel symptoms. Both ulcerative colitis and "high-dose" steroid therapy (greater than 12 mg/sq m/day of cortisol) can hinder growth but in some instances there is a growth spurt after high-dose steroid therapy. "Low-dose" steroid therapy does not retard growth. Colectomy is more effective than high-dose steroid therapy in reversing the growth retardation caused by ulcerative colitis and is of greatest value if not delayed too long. Growth following subtotal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (Aylett procedure) is not likely to be as much as that after subtotal colectomy with ileostomy. Growth retardation is infrequently the only indication for surgical intervention but ileostomy and colectomy are appropriate for this complication of ulcertive colitis in itself when not improved by adequate medical treatment.
ISSN:0031-4005
1098-4275
DOI:10.1542/peds.55.4.459