Disease characteristics and long-term outcomes of cyclic vomiting syndrome in Singaporean children.

BACKGROUND

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) and its effect on nutritional status has not been well described.

AIM

To describe the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes of children with CVS in Singapore.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients aged 1 to 18 years old with CVS diagnosed at KK Women's and Children's Hospital in Singapore from 2011 to 2021.

RESULTS

Thirty-two children (69% female) with CVS were included in the study, with mean age of onset of symptoms at 7 (± 4) years and mean follow up duration of 5 years. Forty percent (12/32) of patients were underweight at diagnosis with no other identifiable organic cause, with a median body mass index (BMI) score -3.2 (range -2 to -7.5). The incidence of systemic hypertension was 10% (3/32). The overall mean frequency of exacerbations in this cohort of patients was 4 (± 4) episodes per year. In total, 16 (50%) patients, who had mean baseline frequency of 6 (± 5) attacks per year, were commenced on prophylactic treatment. Twelve patients (75%) responded to first-line therapy, whereas 4 (25%) required escalation to second-line treatment. With prophylactic treatment, there was an overall improvement in the frequency of attacks with a mean reduction of 5 (± 3) attacks per year. Also, there was improvement in the BMI score of these patients from a median of -2.9 to -0.9.

CONCLUSION

Prophylactic treatment is effective in improving nutritional status as well as reducing symptom frequency and should be considered for patients with complications such as growth failure and significant hypertension.