title: Efficacy and tolerance of gastrostomy feeding in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
abstract: Undernutrition occurs often in individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Between 1997 and 2007, a gastrostomy was placed in 25 patients with DMD (median: 23 years old; range, 11-38 years) for weight loss (n=22) and/or swallowing disorders (n=13). We evaluated nutritional status using the weight-for-age (W/A) ratio, comparing the values to the reference curve for DMD patients. During the first 9 months, nutritional status improved: the W/A ratio increased and reached a plateau. The W/A ratio was 69% (range, 45-128%) at the start and increased to 87% (range, 49-164%) at the maximal follow-up of 22 months (P<0.001). However, the W/A ratio did not reach the median value for age. Complications occurred in 21 patients (84%), but caused no mortality. Our data suggest that gastrostomy is well tolerated by, and effective for improving the nutritional status of, individuals with DMD.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Gastroentérologie, Hépatologie et Nutrition Pédiatriques, Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de Lille, 59037 Lille, France. Leonie.MARTIGNE@CHRU-LILLE.FR
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martigne
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seguy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orlikowski
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cuisset
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carpentier
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tiffreau
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guimber
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000150:complications*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013851:Thinness / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult