Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Aim</jats:title><jats:p>Children with inflammatory bowel disease (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">IBD</jats:styled-content>) have a high prevalence of growth retardation and low bone mineral density (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BMD</jats:styled-content>). This retrospective study investigated whether the start of infliximab treatment (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">IFX</jats:styled-content>) was associated with improvement of growth and bone health.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Anthropometry, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BMD</jats:styled-content> and bone markers were measured 1 year before and after the start of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">IFX</jats:styled-content> 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.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Twenty‐one children (64%) experienced a positive catch‐up growth after <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">IFX</jats:styled-content>. Height standard deviation scores (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SDS</jats:styled-content>) were significantly higher in children in remission. Treatment with <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">IFX</jats:styled-content> was associated with a statistically significant increase in 25‐hydroxycholecalciferol (25‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OHD</jats:styled-content>, p = 0.01). <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">IFX</jats:styled-content> had no influence on <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BMD</jats:styled-content>. Children with low <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BMD </jats:styled-content>< −2 had significantly higher inflammation scores, lower body mass index, weight, height <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SDS</jats:styled-content> and 25‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">ODH</jats:styled-content> after <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">IFX</jats:styled-content>.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>After treatment with <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">IFX</jats:styled-content>, children with <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">IBD</jats:styled-content> improved significantly in weight, with the majority achieving positive catch‐up growth. Bone mass tended to remain static with time of treatment with <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">IFX</jats:styled-content>, despite a significant increase in 25‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OHD</jats:styled-content>. Improved nutritional status positively predicts improved bone mineralisation.</jats:p></jats:sec>