Transient hypertransaminasemia in paediatric patients with Crohn disease undergoing initial treatment with enteral nutrition.

OBJECTIVES

Total enteral nutrition (TEN) is frequently used as monotherapy in children with Crohn disease to prevent steroid toxicity. Liver disease is a known complication in inflammatory bowel disease, and liver enzymes are regularly obtained in these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prospective follow-up of liver enzymes was performed in 11 new consecutive patients ages 7.6 to 17.1 years who were primarily treated with TEN for 6 weeks. Liver enzymes were measured before starting TEN and after 3, 6, and 12 weeks.

RESULTS

At the beginning of TEN, the mean aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) was 18.4 U/L and the mean alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) 17.1 U/L. The mean ASAT and ALAT were 202.0 U/L and 269.0 U/L after 3 weeks and 109.6 U/L and 180.9 U/L at 6 weeks. After 12 weeks values decreased to 22.8 U/L (ASAT) and 20.9 U/L (ALAT). Overall, 9 of 11 patients had transient elevated ASAT and 10 patients showed elevated ALAT. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was slightly elevated in 3 patients during therapy, but alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin showed no changes. None of the patients developed liver disease during follow-up, and prolonged clinical remission was achieved in 9 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that TEN can be associated with transient hypertransaminasemia without evidence of liver disease. We hypothesise that insulin resistance in patients with Crohn disease in combination with standard TEN formulae can result in transient hepatic steatosis causing the hypertransaminasemia. For the clinician it is important to be aware of this benign TEN-associated condition to prevent unnecessary investigations.