Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026
Dynamic Adhesion Assay for the Functional Analysis of Anti-adhesion Therapies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Published on: September 20, 2018
Linear growth and bone metabolism in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Paloma Velez de Andrade Lima Simões Ferreira1, André de Souza Cavalcanti2, Giselia Alves Pontes da Silva3
1Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente (PPGSCA), Recife, PE, Brazil; Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, PE, Brazil.
Insights
Children with inflammatory bowel disease often experience impaired linear growth and low bone mineral density due to chronic inflammation and treatments like glucocorticoids.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children can manifest as delayed linear growth and reduced bone mineral density.
- Chronic inflammation and elevated cytokines negatively impact growth and bone metabolism.
- Glucocorticoid therapy, common in IBD, further exacerbates growth and bone health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pathophysiology of linear growth and bone mineral density issues in pediatric IBD.
- To outline current evaluation methods for growth and bone health in these patients.
Main Methods:
- A narrative review of literature was conducted.
- Searches were performed in PubMed and Scopus databases.
- Keywords included inflammatory bowel disease, growth, failure to thrive, bone health, bone mineral density, and pediatric populations over the last decade.
Main Results:
- IBD in childhood is associated with significant linear growth deficits.
- Low bone mineral density is a common comorbidity in pediatric IBD patients.
- Multiple factors contribute, including inflammation, malnutrition, and medication side effects.
Conclusions:
- Impaired growth and low bone mineral density in pediatric IBD are multifactorial.
- Key contributors include chronic inflammation, malnutrition, reduced physical activity, delayed puberty, and immunosuppressive therapies.
- Comprehensive management strategies are needed to address these complex issues.
Objective:
To review the pathophysiology and evaluation methods of linear growth and bone mineral density in children and adolescents diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.
Source Of Data:
Narrative review carried out in the PubMed and Scopus databases through an active search of the terms: inflammatory bowel disease, growth, failure to thrive, bone health, bone mineral density, and children and adolescents, related to the last ten years, searching in the title, abstract, or keyword fields.
Synthesis Of Findings:
Inflammatory bowel diseases of childhood onset may present as part of the clinical picture of delayed linear growth in addition to low bone mineral density. The presence of a chronic inflammatory process with elevated serum levels of inflammatory cytokines negatively interferes with the growth rate and bone metabolism regulation, in addition to increasing energy expenditure, compromising nutrient absorption, and favoring intestinal protein losses. Another important factor is the chronic use of glucocorticoids, which decreases the secretion of growth hormone and the gonadotrophin pulses, causing pubertal and growth spurt delay. In addition to these effects, they inhibit the replication of osteoblastic lineage cells and stimulate osteoclastogenesis.
Conclusion:
Insufficient growth and low bone mineral density in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease are complex problems that result from multiple factors including chronic inflammation, malnutrition, decreased physical activity, late puberty, genetic susceptibility, and immunosuppressive therapies, such as glucocorticoids.
More Related Videos
09:04DNBS/TNBS Colitis Models: Providing Insights Into Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Effects of Dietary Fat
Published on: February 27, 2014
07:10Author Spotlight: Development and Application of a Canine IBD Gut-on-a-Chip Model for 3D Intestinal Morphogenesis Studies
Published on: February 9, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:21Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
01:24Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism
01:29Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...