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Updated: Jul 26, 2026
A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published on: June 8, 2014
[Bone metabolism in 53 children and adolescents with chronic inflammatory bowel disease]
K Scheer1, J Kratzsch, J Deutscher
1Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik für Kinder und Jugendliche, Leipzig.
Insights
Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients frequently exhibit decreased bone density and metabolic bone abnormalities. Further research is needed to understand the multifactorial causes and develop effective treatments for bone disease in these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Bone Metabolism Research
Context:
- Osteopathy is a common clinical feature in pediatric patients diagnosed with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Early diagnosis and management of bone health are crucial in children and young adults with IBD.
- Understanding the prevalence of decreased bone density and altered bone metabolism is essential for this population.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence of decreased bone density and increased bone metabolism in children with IBD.
- To assess bone health parameters in pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).
Summary:
- This study examined 63 pediatric patients (36 CD, 16 UC, 1 CID) and 10 controls. Abnormal bone density or metabolism was observed in 80% of UC patients and 64% of CD patients.
- CD patients showed a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) of -0.39 SDS, independent of clinical stage or prednisolone dosage. UC patients exhibited a slight increase in BMD (+0.06 SDS) with lower prednisolone use and stable disease.
- Results indicate frequent bone abnormalities in pediatric IBD, highlighting the need for further investigation into causative factors.
Impact:
- Highlights the high prevalence of bone density and metabolism abnormalities in pediatric IBD patients.
- Emphasizes the need for multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trials to address the multifactorial etiology of bone disease.
- Informs clinical practice regarding the importance of monitoring bone health in children with IBD.
Background:
Osteopathy is a common clinical feature of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children and young adults at the time of primary diagnosis. The aim of the following study was to address the question of prevalance of a decreased bone density or increased bone metabolism in children with IBD.
Patients:
We examined 63 patients (mean age 13 years; 5 - 18 years): 36 Crohn's disease (MC) patients, 16 colitis ulcerosa (CU) patient and one patient with colitis indeterminata (CID). 10 children who had been referred to the gastroenterological outpatient department due to suspected IBD symptoms were later found not to suffer from IBD. These 10 patients therefore were included in the study as controls.
Results:
8 of 10 CU patients and 18 of 28 MC patients showed a pathological bone density and abnormalities in bone metabolism. Repetitive bone density measurement was performed in 18 patients. In MC patients a - 0.39 SDS decrease of bone mineral density was found, without a simultaneous deterioration of clinical stage and inspite of a decreased cumulative prednisolon dosage. However in CU patients a + 0.06 SDS increase of bone mineral density was detected. These patients had a lower cumulative prednisolon dosage and a stable clinical course.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, pediatric IBD patients often show abnormalities in bone metabolism and decreased bone density. There is a need for multicentre, prospective randomised control trials to further identify therapeutic tools on the basis of the multifactorial etiology of bone disease in pediatric IBD patients.
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