Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 16, 2025
Rectal Organoid Morphology Analysis ROMA: A Diagnostic Assay in Cystic Fibrosis
Published on: June 10, 2022
Two Decades of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease in North-Western Romania: Phenotypic Characteristics and
Georgia Valentina Tartamus Tita1, Daniela Elena Serban2, Marcel Vasile Tantau3
13rd Medical Discipline, Department of Internal Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Insights
This study details pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD) in Romania, finding Crohn
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Research
Background:
- Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and IBD-unclassified (IBD-U), presents distinct clinical patterns compared to adult forms.
- Understanding regional phenotypic variations in pIBD is crucial for tailored patient management and research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the phenotypic features of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD) in North-West Romania over a 21-year period (2000-2020).
- To compare these findings with international pIBD data to identify potential regional specificities and global trends.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 94 pediatric patients (<18 years) diagnosed with pIBD.
- Phenotypic classification based on the Paris criteria using hospital records.
- Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis were employed, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Main Results:
- Crohn's disease (CD) was diagnosed in 51.0% of patients, ulcerative colitis (UC) in 43.6%, and IBD-unclassified (IBD-U) in 5.4%.
- CD diagnosis after age 10 was significantly more likely than UC (OR=4.75, p=0.03).
- UC predominantly presented as pancolitis (51.2%), while CD most commonly involved the ileocolonic region (56.3%) with inflammatory behavior (69%). Upper GI involvement increased post-2014. Perianal disease and growth issues correlated with complicated CD (p=0.03, p=0.007).
Conclusions:
- This study offers the first comprehensive phenotypic description of pIBD in North-West Romania.
- The observed characteristics align with global trends, emphasizing the need for standardized diagnostic approaches in pediatric IBD.
Abstract:
Background/Objectives: Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD), including Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and IBD-unclassified (IBD-U), exhibits unique clinical features compared to adult-onset disease. This study aimed to describe phenotypic characteristics of pIBD in the north-west region of Romania over a 21-year period and to compare our findings with those of other studies worldwide. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of children under 18 years of age, from the north-west region of Romania, diagnosed with pIBD between 2000 and 2020 at the Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children, Cluj-Napoca. Disease phenotype at diagnosis was established according to the Paris classification. Data were collected from the hospital records and analyzed using descriptive statistics and univariate analysis of categorical variables. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Ninety-four patients were included (CD: 51.0%; UC: 43.6%; IBD-U: 5.4%), with a median age at diagnosis of 14 years (11-15.7). Very early-onset IBD accounted for 5.3% of cases. The likelihood of being diagnosed with CD after 10 years of age was significantly higher compared to UC (OR = 4.75, 95% CI: 1.10-29.07, p = 0.03). UC most frequently presented as pancolitis (51.2%), while CD most often involved the ileocolonic region (56.3%). Inflammatory behavior was the most common CD phenotype (69%). Upper gastrointestinal involvement was documented in 18.7% of CD cases, with detection rates increasing after 2014. Perianal disease and growth impairment were significantly associated with complicated CD behavior (p = 0.03, and p = 0.007 respectively). Our findings are broadly consistent with other published reports. Conclusions: This study provides the first detailed phenotypic characterization of pIBD in this region. Our findings reflect trends observed in other populations and underscore the importance of standardized diagnostic evaluation.
More Related Videos
05:56Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis
Published on: August 29, 2025
05:45Diagnosis of Hirschsprung's Disease by Immunostaining Rectal Suction Biopsies for Calretinin, S100 Protein and Protein Gene Product 9.5
Published on: April 26, 2019
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...
01:30Inflammatory 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...
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
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...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:29Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...