Drug Compliance of Pediatric Patients with Epilepsy / 대한소아신경학회지

PURPOSE: The sole available treatment for the majority of epilepsy patients is antiepileptic drug therapy. Drug compliance is an important factor for adequate treatment. This study is for investigating pediatric epilepsy patients' compliance to antiepileptic drug treatment at Gil hospital, in South Korea. METHODS: From February 1997 to July 2005, retrospective studies were made on 327 patients with epilepsy in Gil hospital of Gachon medical school. The patients who were taking medication prescribed at other hospitals, were admitted to the hospital for over 30 days, had seizures due to meningitis, encephalitis or trauma were excluded. The participants included patients followed for two years or until the seizures were no longer present. RESULTS: Of the total 327 patients, the mean drug compliance was 80.8%; over 80% for 203 patients(62.1%), 80-50% for 97, under 50% for 28(8.6%). Gender, the age of patients, dose frequency, results of the EEG, MRI abnormalities, etiology of epilepsy, and the duration of the first seizure did not significantly influence drug compliance. However, the patients taking tablets or capsules showed higher compliance than those treated with powder medication. In addition, the patients who started to take drugs after the year 2000 had higher compliance than those before 2000. CONCLUSION: The patients taking tablets or capsules and those who started after 2000 had higher compliance. Although most patients had satisfactory drug compliance, 8.6% had poor compliance(under 50% of compliance); this group requires further attention to improve their compliance.

Influence of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Gastric Motility in Children and Adolescents with Functional Dyspepsia / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: In spite of many reports about Helicobacter pylori infection in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders, there are few reports about the influence of H. pylori infection to functional dyspepsia and gastric motility. Therefore, we studied the influence of H. pylori infection on gastric myoelectrical activity in children with functional dyspepsia. METHODS: Between August 2006 and December 2008 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies with biopsies, the rapid urease test and/or 13C urea breath test, and electrogastrography (EGG) were performed on 63 patients with histologic chronic gastritis; patients with chronic disorders were excluded. Comparisons about gastric myoelectrical activities were made between H. pylori-positive children (n=25) and H. pylori- negative children (n=38). RESULTS: The percentage of pre- and post-prandial normogastria was relatively lower in H. pylori-positive children than H. pylori-negative children (80% vs. 65%, and 80% vs. 68%, respectively). Compared to H. pylori-negative children, H. pylori-positive children had lower postprandial predominant power (8.18+/-22.36 dB and 32.20+/-24.18 dB, respectively; p<0.01) and a lower power ratio (deltaP; delta1.28+/-6.18 vs. +.62+/-5.93, respectively; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: It was suggested that the gastric myoelectrical activity in children with chronic gastritis can be influenced by H. pylori infection. Thus, this study indicates that H. pylori infection may be predictable in children with functional dyspepsia through analyzing the EGG parameters, and treatment may be considered in H. pylori-positive children with impaired gastric activity, especially in the lower prevalence area.

Clinical Characteristics of Childhood Henoch-Schonlein Purpura with Duodenal Involvement by Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical usefulness of upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, endoscopic, and histopathologic records of children with HSP who had been admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of Gil Hospital and underwent upper GI endoscopy between January 2002 and June 2009. Patients were classified into the following two groups for statistical analysis: duodenal involvement (+) and duodenal involvement (-). RESULTS: Fifty-one children with HSP underwent upper GI endoscopy; the mean age was 7.2+/-2.9 years. The upper GI endoscopy showed abnormalities of the duodenum in 38 cases (74.5%), 22 of which had duodenal ulcers. Among the biopsy specimens obtained from the duodenum of 37 cases, 13 cases (35.1%) had leukocytoclastic vasculitis, neutrophil debri, and/or extravasation of RBCs. Steroid use was more frequent in the duodenal involvement (+) group (86.8%) than the duodenal involvement (-) group (53.8%; p=0.02). The mean length of hospitalization was 13.9+/-8.43 days in the duodenal involvement (+) group and 8.1+/-4.62 days in the duodenal involvement (-) group (p=0.003). The recurrence rate was significantly higher in the duodenal involvement (-) group than the duodenal involvement (+) group (p=0.027), whereas none of the other study parameters, such as the age of onset, renal involvement, and steroid use, led to significantly higher or lower recurrence rates. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that duodenal involvement can influence the clinical course and prognosis of HSP in children.

Hematologic Features of Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate hematologic features in Korean children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in order to determine appropriate management strategies. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the complete blood count (CBC) profiles and assessed the incidence of anemia in 25 children with IBD (Crohn disease, 16; and ulcerative colitis, 9). The correlation between hemoglobin (Hb) and duration of illness and the activity index of IBD were also investigated. RESULTS: The incidence of anemia was 76% in IBD, 88% in Crohn disease, and 56% in ulcerative colitis. Leukocytosis and thrombocytosis were only found in Crohn disease (56% and 25%, respectively). No statistically significant correlation was observed between Hb and duration of illness in Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis or between Hb and the activity index in Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. CONCLUSION: The incidence of anemia found in this study was slightly higher than in previous reports. Additionally, there was no correlation between Hb and the duration of illness or the activity index. Therefore, even if the duration of illness is short, or the activity index is low, appropriate management of children with IBD should include careful evaluation for anemia.

The Clinical and Histopathologic Findings of Lymphonodular Hyperplasia of the Colon in Infancy and Childhood / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: Lymphonodular hyperplasia of the colon (LNHC) is a rare finding in children and its significance as a pathologic finding is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of LNHC by analyzing clinical and histopathologic findings in children with LNHC. METHODS: We analyzed data from 38 patients who were confirmed to have LNHC by colonoscopy. We checked age, birth history, past history, family history, and clinical symptoms. A hematologic exam, stool exam, and image studies were performed and biopsy specimens were examined by a pathologist. All patients were asked to have short- and long-term follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 12.5+/-14.4 months. All patients presented with complaints of bloody stool. They appeared healthy and the hematologic findings were within a normal range, with the exception of one case. There was no other identified source of bleeding. On histologic exam, 36 patients (94.7%) had lymphoid follicles and 34 patients (84.5%) fulfilled the criteria of allergic colitis. Regardless of diet modification and presence of residual symptom, there was no recurrence of bloody stool through long-term follow-up in all patients. CONCLUSION: LNHC is more common in infants who are affected by allergic colitis, but it can appear even after infancy. LNHC should be regarded as the etiology when there are any other causes of rectal bleeding, especially in healthy children. We suggest that LNHC has a benign course regardless of diet modification and it might not require excessive concerns.