Paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease who received infliximab experienced improved growth and bone health.

Aim Children with inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD) have a high prevalence of growth retardation and low bone mineral density ( BMD). This retrospective study investigated whether the start of infliximab treatment ( IFX) was associated with improvement of growth and bone health. Methods Anthropometry, BMD and bone markers were measured 1 year before and after the start of IFX treatment in 33 patients (51% males), with a median age of 13.5 years at baseline. Outcomes were growth with treatment and indicators of improved bone health. Results Twenty-one children (64%) experienced a positive catch-up growth after IFX. Height standard deviation scores ( SDS) were significantly higher in children in remission. Treatment with IFX was associated with a statistically significant increase in 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25- OHD, p = 0.01). IFX had no influence on BMD. Children with low BMD < −2 had significantly higher inflammation scores, lower body mass index, weight, height SDS and 25- ODH after IFX. Conclusion After treatment with IFX, children with IBD improved significantly in weight, with the majority achieving positive catch-up growth. Bone mass tended to remain static with time of treatment with IFX, despite a significant increase in 25- OHD. Improved nutritional status positively predicts improved bone mineralisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]