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Characteristics of pediatric ulcerative colitis in Saudi Arabia: a multicenter national study
Khalid AlSaleem1, Mohammad Issa El Mouzan, Omar I Saadah
1Dr. Khalid AlSaleem, MBC 58 Department of Pediatrics,, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre,, PO Box 3354, Riyadh 11211,, Saudi Arabia, T: 966505445487, ksaleem@kfshrc.edu.sa.
Insights
Pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) is increasingly diagnosed in Saudi Arabia, with common symptoms including blood in stool and diarrhea. This study highlights similarities in UC presentation to Western countries, noting a high prevalence of consanguinity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric gastroenterology
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) research
- Epidemiology of gastrointestinal disorders
Background:
- Limited data on pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) exists from developing nations, contrasting with extensive reports from industrialized countries.
- Previous studies on pediatric UC in Saudi Arabia were primarily small, single-center case series.
- This multicenter study addresses the need for comprehensive data on pediatric UC in Saudi Arabia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical, laboratory, and endoscopic characteristics of pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) in Saudi Arabia.
- To establish a large, multicenter dataset for pediatric UC in a developing country.
- To compare findings with international data from North America and Europe.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients diagnosed with UC (under 18 years) between 2003 and 2012.
- Data collected from 15 medical centers across Saudi Arabia using a unified database form.
- Inclusion criteria focused on confirmed UC diagnoses in children.
Main Results:
- 188 children diagnosed with UC; 51.6% males, mean age at diagnosis 9.1 years.
- High prevalence of consanguinity (32.6%) and family history of IBD (9%).
- Common symptoms: blood in stool (90%), diarrhea (86%), abdominal pain (62%); elevated ESR (82%), anemia (75%), thrombocytosis (72%).
Conclusions:
- Pediatric UC is increasingly recognized in Saudi Arabia, with clinical presentations similar to Western countries.
- Age-related variations in IBD distribution were observed.
- High rates of consanguinity and family history in young UC patients warrant further investigation.
Background:
Despite the extensive reporting of pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) from industrialized developed countries, reports from developing countries are limited to small-case series from single centers. The objective of our large multicenter study was to determine the clinical, laboratory, endoscopic characteristics of UC in children from a developing country, Saudi Arabia.
Design And Settings:
A retrospective study of children diagnosed with UC under the age of 18 years during the period from 2003 to 2012.
Methods:
Patients enrolled from 15 medical centers from different regions in Saudi Arabia. A unified database collection form specifically designed for this study was completed by all participating centers.
Results:
A total of 188 children were diagnosed with UC during the study period (97 males [51.6%] and 91 females [48.4%]). The mean age at diagnosis was 9.1 years, and the mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 8.7 months. Consanguinity was present in 57 cases (32.6%), and the family history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was noted in 16 cases (9%). The most common clinical presentation was blood in stool (90%), followed by diarrhea (86%) and abdominal pain (62%). Laboratory investigations revealed elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (82%), anemia (75%), thrombocytosis (72%), and hypoalbuminemia (33%). The extent of the disease was pan colonic in 46.1%, and confined to left side of colon and rectum in 23% and 9.6% of the cases, respectively.
Conclusion:
This demographically pediatric IBD retrospective study revealed age-related variation in the distribution of IBD. Clinical presentation, with a high prevalence of positive consanguinity and positive family history, was noted in young patients with UC. The data from this study indicate that UC is increasingly recognized in Saudi Arabia and show many similarities to data from North America and Europe.
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