Gut Liver.  2015 Jan;9(1):87-93. 10.5009/gnl13345.

Effect of Short-Term Partial Enteral Nutrition on the Treatment of Younger Patients with Severe Crohn's Disease

• Kang Y
• Kim S
• Kim SY
• Koh H

• KMID: 2380787
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5009/gnl13345

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
To analyze the effect of short-term supportive temporary partial enteral nutrition therapy for treating severe pediatric Crohn's disease (CD).
METHODS
We conducted a prospective, open-label study in pediatric patients with CD (n=78) from January 2007 to December 2011. The CD patients were divided into three groups according to disease severity (mild, moderate, and severe). Seventeen patients with severe CD received short-term partial enteral nutrition (SPEN) in addition to their general diet for 4 weeks after the induction of remission with medical treatment. This SPEN group was further divided into two groups by age (<13 years, > or =13 years). Nutritional parameters and Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index scores were analyzed at the initial enrollment and following 1 year of treatment for all groups.
RESULTS
Nutritional status improved substantially after 1 year of treatment in the severe CD group. Nutritional status in the SPEN group improved considerably more than that in the non-SPEN group. Additionally, the <13-year-old group demonstrated better nutritional status improvement than the > or =13-year-old group.
CONCLUSIONS
SPEN may be effective in pediatric patients with severe CD for improving nutritional status and moderating disease severity.

Keyword

Crohn disease; Younger age; Partial enteral nutrition; Disease activity; Nutritional status

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Crohn Disease/*therapy
*Enteral Nutrition/methods
Female
Humans
Male
Nutritional Status
Prospective Studies
Treatment Outcome