Gabriela Leșanu
Clinica de Pediatrie, Spitalul Clinic de Urgență pentru Copii “Grigore Alexandrescu” București
Abstract
Twenty-five percent of individuals diagnosed with Crohn ‘s disease (CD) have onset of disease in childhood. Growth failure was noticed in 15-40% of the children with inflammatory bowel disease, with a significant number of children having impaired linear growth. The suppression of linear growth that occurs in children with CD has been attributed chiefly to malnutri tion; however, there is evidence that the inflammatory process may itself be major factor in leading to growth retardation . A possible mechanism of action of enteral nutrition (EN) in inducing disease remission in CD is the capacity of modification of gut microflora. Enteral formulas may also directly reduce in flammation, lowering the expression of cytokines like interleukin (IL)-6. It is recommended EN to be the first line of treatment for all children with Crohn’s disease, both for small and large intestinal disease. NE may be effective both by restoring nutrition when impaired or inducing a remission of disease activity. Supplementary enteral nutrition after primary therapy and after remission is induced may be associated with the prolongation of remission and promotion of linear growth