Growth failure in Crohn's disease: an approach to treatment.

Seven children with Crohn's disease and linear growth retardation were studied in order to determine the best method of treating this psychologically debilitating complication. No single therapeutic approach was successful in all patients. Three patients responded to enteral caloric supplementation, one to central venous alimentation, and one low dose corticosteroid therapy, and two responded to surgical extirpation of the involved segments of bowel.