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Body composition and lung function in children with cystic fibrosis and meconium ileus

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore whether history of meconium ileus (MI) at birth in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) adversely affects body composition and lung function in later life. Data of children and adolescents with CF who underwent spirometry and DXA as part of their routine care were analyzed. Associations between MI (explanatory variable) and areal bone mineral density (total body less head—TBLH aBMD), lean tissue mass (LTM), and fat mass (FM) (outcomes) were assessed using general linear models. Potential relationships of TBLH aBMD, LTM, and FM with FEV1 (additional outcome) were also explored. One hundred and one subjects with CF (mean age 14 ± 3 years) were included, 19 (18.8%) of whom had history of MI. Negative associations were demonstrated between history of MI and FEV1 (P = 0.04), TBLH aBMD (P = 0.03), and FM (P < 0.01) but not between history of MI and LTM (P = 0.07) after adjustment for other variables. Lung function was positively associated with TBLH aBMD (P < 0.01) and LTM (P = 0.02) but not with FM (P = 0.20).

Conclusion: Among children and adolescents with CF, those with history of MI have lower bone mineral density, FM, and lung function.

What is Known:

• Among children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis, those with history of meconium ileus in the neonatal period are at risk of having lower body mass index percentile and FEV 1 percent predicted.

What is New:

• Children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis and history of meconium ileus have decreased bone mineral density and fat mass compared to patients without such history.

• Lower lung function in children with MI coexists with suboptimal bone mineral density.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

CF:

Cystic fibrosis

CFRD:

CF-related diabetes mellitus

DXA:

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

FM:

Fat mass

LTM:

Lean tissue mass

TBLH aBMD:

Total body less head areal bone mineral density

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bone and Mineral Metabolism, Institute of Child Health, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Artemis Doulgeraki & Glykeria Petrocheilou

  2. Cystic Fibrosis Center, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Argyri Petrocheilou, George Chrousos & Stavros-Eleftherios Doudounakis

  3. Pediatric Pulmonology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine and Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, Thivon and Papadiamantopoulou St., 115 27, Athens, Greece

    Athanasios G. Kaditis

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  1. Artemis Doulgeraki
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Contributions

Artemis Doulgeraki: Dr. Doulgeraki participated in the preparation of the research proposal, contributed to data analysis, prepared the first draft of the manuscript, approved the final manuscript as submitted, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Argyri Petrocheilou: Dr. A. Petrocheilou reviewed the research proposal, contributed to clinical evaluation of the patients, critically reviewed and approved the final manuscript as submitted, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Glykeria Petrocheilou: Dr. G. Petrocheilou contributed to data analysis and interpretation, critically reviewed and approved the final manuscript as submitted, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

George Chrousos: Dr. Chrousos contributed to data analysis and interpretation, critically reviewed and approved the final manuscript as submitted, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Stavros-Eleftherios Doudounakis: Dr. Doudounakis reviewed the research proposal, contributed to clinical evaluation of the patients, critically reviewed and approved the final manuscript as submitted, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Athanasios Kaditis: Dr. Kaditis participated in the preparation of the research proposal, contributed to data analysis and data interpretation, prepared the final draft of the manuscript, approved the final manuscript as submitted, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Athanasios G. Kaditis.

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Funding

There was no funding for the present work. There were no sources of funding or support.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research involving human participants

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

The current retrospective study was approved by the Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital Scientific Council.

Additional information

Communicated by Peter de Winter

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Doulgeraki, A., Petrocheilou, A., Petrocheilou, G. et al. Body composition and lung function in children with cystic fibrosis and meconium ileus. Eur J Pediatr 176, 737–743 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-017-2906-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-017-2906-z

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