Very early onset perinatal constipation: Can it be cow's milk protein allergy?

Delayed passage of meconium or constipation during the perinatal period is traditionally regarded as a signal to initiate further work up to evaluate for serious diagnoses such as Hirschsprung's disease (HD), meconium ileus due to Cystic Fibrosis, etc. The diagnosis of HD particularly warrants invasive testing to confirm the diagnosis, such as anorectal manometry or rectal suction biopsy. What if there was another etiology of perinatal constipation, that is far lesser known? Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is often diagnosed in infants within the first few weeks of life, however, there are studies that show that the CMPA allergen can be passed from mother to an infant in-utero, therefore allowing symptoms to show as early as day one of life. The presentation is more atypical, with perinatal constipation rather than with bloody stools, diarrhea, and vomiting. The diagnosis and management would be avoidance of cow's milk protein within the diet, with results and symptom improvement in patients immediately. Therefore, we discuss whether an alternative pathway to address perinatal constipation should be further discussed and implemented to potentially avoid invasive techniques in patients. This entails first ruling out CMPA with safe, noninvasive techniques with diet modification, and if unsuccessful, then moving forward with further diagnostic modalities.

Sulfato de magnesio antenatal y eliminación tardía de meconio: Estudio multicéntrico / Antenatal magnesium sulphate and delayed passage of meconium: A multicentre study

Introducción: La relación entre sulfato de magnesio (MgSO4) y el retraso en la evacuación de meconio presenta resultados controvertidos en la literatura. Objetivos: Determinar si existe relación entre la administración de MgSO4 a la madre y la eliminación tardía de meconio (ETM) en el neonato y conocer los niveles de magnesio en sangre en estos, con respecto a la dosis acumulada de MgSO4 administrada a la madre. Población y métodos: Estudio descriptivo-analítico, en pacientes ≤ 32 semanas de edad gestacional, con diseño retrospectivo-prospectivo, llevado a cabo en dos hospitales de tercer nivel asistencial. Se definió la ETM como retraso en la evacuación meconial ≥ 48 horas y/o necesidad de estimulación rectal en ≥ 2 ocasiones para realizar deposición y/o retraso ≥ 48 horas entre la primera y segunda deposición. Resultados: Se reclutaron 283 pacientes (204 retrospectiva y 79 prospectivamente), de los cuales 152 (53,7%) presentó ETM. No se encontró relación entre la administración de MgSO4 a la madre, ni la dosis acumulada de MgSO4 en esta, ni los niveles de magnesio en sangre del neonato con la presencia de ETM. La mayor edad gestacional (OR 0,8, IC 0,69-0,93, p = 0,003) resultó factor protector independiente de la ETM y la necesidad de reanimación avanzada (OR 2,24, IC 1,04-4,86, p = 0,04) factor de riesgo. Conclusiones: Los niveles alcanzados de magnesio en sangre del neonato con las dosis de MgSO4 administradas a las madres, no se relacionan con la ETM. La menor edad gestacional y la necesidad de reanimación avanzada predicen mayor riesgo de ETM. (AU)

Introduction: The published evidence on the association between magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) and delayed passage of meconium (DPM) is contradictory. Objectives: To determine whether there is an association between the administration of MgSO4 to the mother and DPM in the neonate, and to analyse serum magnesium levels in neonates in relation to the cumulative dose of MgSO4 administered to the mother. Population and methods: Retrospective and prospective descriptive and analytical study conducted in patients delivered at or before 32 weeks of gestation in 2 tertiary care hospitals. Delayed passage of meconium was defined as failure to pass meconium within 48 hours of birth and/or need for rectal stimulation on 2 or more occasions to pass stool and/or interval of at least 48 hours between the first and second bowel movements. Results: The study included 283 patients (204 retrospectively and 79 prospectively), of who 152 (53.7%) experienced DPM. Delayed passage of meconium was not associated with antenatal MgSO4 administration, the cumulative maternal MgSO4 dose or neonatal serum magnesium levels. Older gestational age (OR, 0.8; confidence interval [CI], 0.69–0.93; P = .003) was an independent protective factor against DPM, while the need for advanced resuscitation (OR, 2.24; CI 1.04–4.86; P = .04) was a risk factor for DPM. Conclusion: The neonatal serum levels of magnesium reached with the doses of MgSO4 administered to mothers were not associated with DPM. Lower gestational age and the need for advanced resuscitation were predictors associated with an increased risk of DPM. (AU)

Antenatal magnesium sulphate and delayed passage of meconium: A multicentre study.

INTRODUCTION: The published evidence on the association between magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) and delayed passage of meconium (DPM) is contradictory. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there is an association between the administration of MgSO4 to the mother and DPM in the neonate, and to analyse serum magnesium levels in neonates in relation to the cumulative dose of MgSO4 administered to the mother. POPULATION AND METHODS: Retrospective and prospective descriptive and analytical study conducted in patients delivered at or before 32 weeks of gestation in 2 tertiary care hospitals. Delayed passage of meconium was defined as failure to pass meconium within 48 h of birth and/or need for rectal stimulation on 2 or more occasions to pass stool and/or interval of at least 48 h between the first and second bowel movements. RESULTS: The study included 283 patients (204 retrospectively and 79 prospectively), of who 152 (53.7%) experienced DPM. Delayed passage of meconium was not associated with antenatal MgSO4 administration, the cumulative maternal MgSO4 dose or neonatal serum magnesium levels. Older gestational age (OR, 0.8; confidence interval [CI], 0.69-0.93; P = 0.003) was an independent protective factor against DPM, while the need for advanced resuscitation (OR, 2.24; CI 1.04-4.86; P = 0.04) was a risk factor for DPM. CONCLUSION: The neonatal serum levels of magnesium reached with the doses of MgSO4 administered to mothers were not associated with DPM. Lower gestational age and the need for advanced resuscitation were predictors associated with an increased risk of DPM.

Pediatric intestinal motility disorders.

Pediatric intestinal motility disorders affect many children and thus not only impose a significant impact on pediatric health care in general but also on the quality of life of the affected patient. Furthermore, some of these conditions might also have implications for adulthood. Pediatric intestinal motility disorders frequently present as chronic constipation in toddler age children. Most of these conditions are functional, meaning that constipation does not have an organic etiology, but in 5% of the cases, an underlying, clearly organic disorder can be identified. Patients with organic causes for intestinal motility disorders usually present in early infancy or even right after birth. The most striking clinical feature of children with severe intestinal motility disorders is the delayed passage of meconium in the newborn period. This sign is highly indicative of the presence of Hirschsprung disease (HD), which is the most frequent congenital disorder of intestinal motility. HD is a rare but important congenital disease and the most significant entity of pediatric intestinal motility disorders. The etiology and pathogenesis of HD have been extensively studied over the last several decades. A defect in neural crest derived cell migration has been proven as an underlying cause of HD, leading to an aganglionic distal end of the gut. Numerous basic science and clinical research related studies have been conducted to better diagnose and treat HD. Resection of the aganglionic bowel remains the gold standard for treatment of HD. Most recent studies show, at least experimentally, the possibility of a stem cell based therapy for HD. This editorial also includes rare causes of pediatric intestinal motility disorders such as hypoganglionosis, dysganglionosis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and ganglioneuromatosis in multiple endocrine metaplasia. Underlying organic pathologies are rare in pediatric intestinal motility disorders but must be recognized as early as possible.