Crohn's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Crohn's Disease, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, causes, medication.

Growth retardation in pediatric Crohn's disease: pathogenesis and interventions.

Shamir R, Phillip M, Levine A

Pediatric Gastroenterology Division of the Meyer Children's Hospital, Haifa.

Growth retardation (GR) may pose a significant challenge to the quality of life and the proper management of children and adolescents with Crohn's disease (CD). It can occur in a significant proportion of patients, and may precede clinical evidence of bowel disease. Current evidence suggests that GR is a complex interaction between nutritional status, inflammation, disease severity, and genotype, which causes resistance to the effects of growth hormone. Recent research has identified a key role for the inflammatory cytokines TNF alpha, IL-6, and IL1 beta. This review summarizes current knowledge as well as gaps in our understanding of the mechanisms involved and the usefulness of the different treatment modalities in promoting growth in CD patients.

Published 14 May 2007 in Inflamm Bowel Dis, 13(5): 620-8.
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