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Growth as a parameter of inflammation in Crohn's disease, using roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis
H Hildebrand1, S Aronson, G Selvik
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Lund, Sweden.
Insights
Short-term growth measurements accurately track growth rate in children with Crohn's disease. This method correlates with disease activity, aiding in monitoring treatment response, especially for growth retardation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Growth Monitoring
Background:
- Crohn's disease often causes growth retardation in children.
- Accurate short-term growth assessment is crucial for managing pediatric Crohn's disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) for precise short-term growth rate measurement in children with Crohn's disease.
- To determine the correlation between growth rate and clinical indicators of disease activity.
Main Methods:
- Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) was employed to measure growth rate in 12 children with Crohn's disease and growth retardation.
- Growth was monitored at 4-12 week intervals, correlating measurements with symptoms, lab tests, and nitrogen balance.
Main Results:
- Growth rate demonstrated a significant correlation with disease symptoms, laboratory markers, and nitrogen balance.
- Fluctuations in growth rate mirrored changes in albumin, acute phase proteins, and overall disease activity.
Conclusions:
- Short-term growth rate measurement using RSA is a valuable tool for monitoring disease progression in pediatric Crohn's disease.
- This method is particularly useful when growth retardation is the primary or sole manifestation of the condition.
Abstract:
Growth rate was measured in 12 children with Crohn's disease and growth retardation, using roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis. The method was chosen as it provides an opportunity to record growth rate accurately during short periods of time. Growth was followed at variable intervals of 4-12 weeks depending on the clinical situation. Growth rate was shown to correlate with symptoms, laboratory tests and nitrogen balance. These findings indicate that growth, when it is affected, fluctuates in a similar way as albumin, acute phase proteins and symptoms, all assumed to reflect the disease activity. Short-term growth measurements appear to be helpful in monitoring the disease progress or response to therapy in children with Crohn's disease, particularly when growth retardation is the only manifestation of the disease.