Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2012 Feb;19(1):57-62. doi: 10.1097/MED.0b013e32834ed61f.
In this review we report an update on the current knowledge on growth disorders in children with chronic inflammatory diseases, mainly inflammatory bowel disease and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, with a particular focus on the role of inflammatory cytokines as mediators of growth impairment.
Growth disorders are common among patients with inflammatory diseases. Several factors can contribute to growth failure: poor nutrition, immobilization, drugs, disease activity, duration and severity. There is extensive evidence suggesting that inflammatory cytokines are key players in mediating growth failure. Recent studies have confirmed a direct association between levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, and reduced growth velocity, as well as impaired body composition. Recent studies have also highlighted the beneficial effect of new drugs, such biologics, not only in controlling disease activity, but also in improving growth.
Growth retardation remains a major problem in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, and proinflammatory cytokines are key players in this context. New drugs, specifically targeting inflammatory cytokines appear to be promising for their effect on growth. Further studies are required to better characterize the cytokine profile in children with inflammatory disease and help in developing effective treatment strategies.
在这篇综述中，我们报告了儿童慢性炎症性疾病（主要为炎症性肠病和幼年特发性关节炎）生长障碍的最新知识，特别关注炎症细胞因子作为生长障碍介质的作用。
生长障碍在炎症性疾病患者中很常见。多种因素可导致生长不良：营养差、固定、药物、疾病活动、病程和严重程度。大量证据表明，炎症细胞因子是介导生长障碍的关键因素。最近的研究证实，炎症细胞因子（如肿瘤坏死因子-α和白细胞介素-6）的水平与生长速度减慢以及身体成分受损直接相关。最近的研究还强调了新型药物（如生物制剂）的有益作用，不仅可以控制疾病活动，还可以改善生长。
生长迟缓仍然是慢性炎症性疾病患者的一个主要问题，促炎细胞因子是这种情况下的关键因素。针对炎症细胞因子的新型药物似乎在促进生长方面有很大的潜力。需要进一步研究来更好地描述炎症性疾病患儿的细胞因子谱，并帮助制定有效的治疗策略。
