Search

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition of the gastrointestinal tract comprising of two entities: Crohn disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC). Considered rare in children in the past, inflammatory bowel disease is nowadays more frequently found, raising diagnostic and treatment challenges. In our study, we have taken into consideration all children diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, in the Department of Pediatrics of the Clinical Emergency County Hospital of Constanta, from 2016 to 2019. 14 children were diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease during this timeframe, 8 with Crohn disease (57,14%) and 6 with Ulcerative colitis (42,86%). The mean age at onset was 8.2 years for Crohn disease patients, varying between 20 months to 15 years, and 12.8 years for Ulcerative colitis patients, varying between 8 to 14 years. After a positive diagnosis, different types of induction therapy was implemented, depending on the activity and severity of the disease, as well as on the type of inflammatory bowel disease. 12 patients received iv corticosteroids for an average of five days, followed by oral corticosteroids for 4-8 weeks. Aminosalicylates (Mesalazine) was used as a sole induction treatment in children with UC, or in association with corticosteroids in severe cases (4 cases). Immunomodulatory treatment (Azathioprine) was used for maintaining remission in 5 children with Crohn disease for an average period of 6 months. In 3 cases of CD, antibiotics, such as Metronidazole, were used in the initial treatment. Biological therapy, such as Adalimumab (ADA), was administered as an induction therapy in patients with refractory to conventional treatment forms, in 5 cases, with a favourable outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Medical management of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases is complex and tailored to disease activity. The primary goal is the induction of remission and maintenance of remission with longterm prevention of disease progression. AIM: to describe current drug treatment practices in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Dobrogea. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The retrospective and descriptive study included 128 patients: group 1 = Crohn's Disease (79), group 2 = Ulcerative Colitis (46) and group 3 = Unclassified Colitis (3). RESULTS: The phenotypic distribution was: 62% with Crohn's Disease, 36% with Ulcerative Colitis and 3 patients with Unclassified Colitis. CROHN'S DISEASE: According to Montreal Classification, the majority of patients were diagnosed after 40 years (58%); the most frequent involvement was ileo-colonic (47%) and the most frequent phenotype was inflammatory (60%). 40% patients had intestinal complications and 7% had extraintestinal complications. 16.4% required surgical interventions. 67% were treated at some point with aminosalicylates, 44% with immunosuppressive drugs (thiopurines), 80% with corticosteroids for the induction of remission (inaugural flare) and 50% of them received again corticosteroidssteroids in the evolution of the disease, and 29% with biologic therapy. ULCERATIVE COLITIS: Most common location was left colitis in 47% cases. One patient had intestinal complications and no extraintestinal complications were reported in this group. No patients required surgical interventions. 82.5% were treated at some point with aminosalicylates, 37% with immunosuppressive drugs (thiopurines), 17% with corticosteroids and 11% with biologic therapy. UNCLASSIFIED COLITIS: In this group were not reported intestinal and extraintestinal complications and also no patient required surgical interventions. 2 patients were treated at some point with aminosalicylates, all patients were treated with immunomodulators and only one patient was administered biologic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Particularities of Crohn's Disease in our region are: widespread use of aminosalicylates, overuse of corticosteroids overtime, underprescribed biologic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]