Article:Nutrition In Cystic Fibrosis Patients Before Lung Transplant

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NASPGHAN:

Nutrition In Cystic Fibrosis Patients Before Lung Transplant

May Affect Outcome

By Coriene E. Hannapel

Special to DG News

SAN ANTONIO, TX -- October 28, 2002 -- Malnutrition in children with

cystic fibrosis waiting for lung transplants appears to affect

post-operative growth and health.

Researchers presented data that indicates that more attention to

nutritional status in the pre-operative period is warranted to ensure a

positive outcome for surgery.

" Where we should intervene is at the time between the listing and the

transplant to see if they can improve nutrition and thus improve weight

and height, " said Eyal Shetyer, M.D., St. Louis Children's Hospital, St.

Louis, Missouri, United States, who presented findings here October 26 at

the annual meeting of the North American Society for Pediatric

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN).

The retrospective study assessed the prevalence and effects of

malnutrition in children with cystic fibrosis waiting for long

transplants, Dr. Shetyer said. " For lung tissue, patient weight and

height are important in determining overall health, " he added.

A lung transplant database of all CF lung transplant patients between

1991 and 2002 was analyzed. A record of the nutritional status at the

time of listing, the time of transplant, and at one year post-transplant

was recorded for each patient. Malnutrition was defined in terms of

weight and height, with a Z-score for weight (WAZ) of less than -2.0 and

for height (HAZ) of less than -2.0.

The study group included 100 children with cystic fibrosis, 58 females

and 42 males with a mean age range of 6 to 20 years, who were awaiting

lung transplant.

At the time of listing, the mean HAZ was -1.6 ± 1.04, with a range of

-3.99 ± 0.73 and the mean WAZ score was -2.48 ± 1.66 with a range of -8.8

± .8.

Survival rates for 1, 2, and 5 years were 88, 81 and 54 percent

respectively. Those children with a WAZ of greater than -2.0 at the time

of transplant (94 percent versus 82 percent at the first year, and 89

percent versus 78 percent at the second year) had better 1 and 2 year

survival rates.

Becki

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