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Background Paediatric inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD) is associated with weight loss, growth restriction and malnutrition. Bone mass deficits are well described, little is known about other body composition compartments. Aims To define the alterations in non-bone tissue compartments in children with IBD, and explore the effects of demographic and disease parameters. Methods A systematic search was carried out in the PubMed () and Web of Science databases in May 2014 (limitations age <17 years, and composition measurements compared with a defined control population). Results Twenty-one studies were included in this systematic review, reporting on a total of 1479 children with IBD [1123 Crohn's disease, 243 ulcerative colitis], pooled mean age 13.1 ± 3.2 years, and 34.9% female. Data were highly heterogeneous, in terms of methodology and patients. Deficits in protein-related compartments were reported. Lean mass deficits were documented in 93.6% of Crohn's disease and 47.7% of ulcerative colitis patients when compared with healthy control populations. Lower lean mass was common to both sexes in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, deficits in females with persisted for longer. Fat-related compartment findings were inconsistent, some studies report reductions in body fat in new diagnosis/active Crohn's disease. Conclusions It is clear that almost all children with Crohn's disease and half with ulcerative colitis have reduced lean mass, however, body fat alterations are not well defined. To understand what impact this may have on health and disease in children with IBD, further studies are needed to identify in which tissues these deficits lie, and to quantify body fat and its distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the relationship between blood tests and oesophageal histology in Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE). Methods: All children diagnosed with EoE at one hospital from 2000 to 2009 were considered for inclusion in this study. Three blood test results were analysed, blood eosinophil count, serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and radioallergosorbent tests (RAST) to common food allergens. Oesophageal histology was prospectively re-reviewed, and mean eosinophil counts were enumerated. Blood test results were correlated with oesophageal eosinophil counts using Spearman's rank test. Results: Forty children (70% boys) were included in this study, median age at diagnosis 6.5 years (range 0-15). At the time of diagnosis, 78% of children had a raised blood eosinophil count, 90% had a raised serum total IgE and 83% had one or more positive RAST tests. The mean oesophageal eosinophil count was significantly correlated with both blood eosinophil count (p = 0.008) and serum total IgE level (p = 0.008). Conclusion: This study shows that blood tests are often abnormal in children with EoE at the time of diagnosis. Our data demonstrate an association between histological abnormalities and blood test results in children with EoE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess self-reported Quality of life (QoL) in children with Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) aged 5–18 and compare this with both disease and healthy control children in a prospective consecutive sample. Methods: All children attending a tertiary paediatric gastroenterology clinic from February 2009 to May 2009 with GORD, chronic constipation and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were asked to complete the validated PedsQL generic QoL assessment (self-report) at their clinic appointment. The PedsQL considers physical, emotional, social and school domains and is scored from 0 to 100. Healthy children were also recruited from the same site. Groups were compared using the independent samples Student’s t-test. Results: A total of 184 children completed the assessment [103 (56%) male, mean age 10.7 years ± 3.3] including 40 children with GORD, 44 with chronic constipation, 59 with IBD and 41 healthy children. QoL was significantly lower in the GORD group compared with both children with IBD (74 vs. 82) and healthy children (74 vs. 84), and was comparable to that of children with chronic constipation (74 vs. 74). Conclusions: Self-reported QoL in children with GORD attending a tertiary paediatric gastroenterology clinic is significantly reduced compared with both healthy children and children with IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]