Origins of growth deficiencies in cystic fibrosis

Background: Due to chronic respiratory and gastrointestinal problems, growth failure is a common issue in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in CF children with stable gastrointestinal and respiratory conditions. Materials and Methods: In this study, the growth indicators of all 4–16-year-old children referred to two CF clinics were monitored over 3 years. Children without severe gastrointestinal or pulmonary symptoms with weight <3% percentile or whose height increase were two standard deviations below their expected height growth over 6 months were selected for the growth hormone (GH) stimulation test by clonidine and L-dopa test. Some of the children without CF, who were also referred for height growth disorders and matched the CF group, were considered the control group. They underwent the GH stimulation test, and the results were compared. Results: From 150 patients with CF, growth failure was observed in 24 patients with stable gastrointestinal and respiratory conditions; in 10 of them, the GH stimulation test was deficient. The prevalence of GHD was 6.6% in CF patients. In the control group of 30 children without CF, but with growth failure, the GH was deficient in nine cases, implying no significant difference with the case group ( P = 0.37). Conclusion: In our study, the prevalence of GHD was 6.6% in CF patients, whereas the prevalence GHD in the normal population of childhood is <1%. Therefore, further studies should be designed to investigate the cause of GHD in CF patients.

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“…Given the above-mentioned evidences, it seems that evaluation the GHD would more helpful both for growth evaluation and GH therapy. [ 3 18 19 ]…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of growth hormone deficiency in children with cystic fibrosis

et al. 2022

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“…For example, since individuals with CF are particularly at risk for respiratory infections, families may need to adjust routines or not participate in certain activities to minimize exposure to pathogens. Additionally, malnutrition and poor growth due to the body’s diminished ability to absorb food and nutrients (Le & Schechter, 2019) necessitate families creating specialized high-calorie diets and mealtime strategies for the child with CF (Stark et al, 2005). Parents often feel pressure to make sure children consume more calories, which can lengthen mealtime and increase resistant behavior and ineffective strategies by parents (Stark et al, 2005; Hammons & Fiese, 2010).…”

Section: Systemic Effects and Treatment Of Cystic Fibrosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Treating systemic issues in families affected by cystic fibrosis: A solution-focused approach.

Hall¹,

Sanders²,

Noel³

et al. 2020

Families, Systems, & Health

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Cystic fibrosis (CF) presents with various symptoms that impair day-to-day functioning and require lifelong treatment. Due to the chronic and severe nature of this disease, families are often impacted by the stress associated with treatment, complications of the disease, and the understanding that their loved one will one day die from CF. This article seeks to address a perceived gap in the literature for providing a model-specific approach to address psychosocial stress in families affected by CF. We provide a rationale for using solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) to work with this population based on its empirically supported effectiveness, versatility, and capacity to be brief in nature. We describe how SFBT interventions can be used by practitioners working with this population, present a fictitious case illustration depicting the clinical use of specific SFBT interventions, and offer suggestions for future research.

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