Muscle deficits with normal bone microarchitecture and geometry in young adults with well controlled childhood onset Crohn’s disease

Steell, L. et al. (2020) Muscle deficits with normal bone microarchitecture and geometry in young adults with well controlled childhood onset Crohn’s disease. European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 32(12), pp. 1497-1506. (doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000001838) (PMID:32675776)

Abstract

Background: Muscle–bone deficits are common in pediatric Crohn’s disease; however, few studies have assessed long-term musculoskeletal outcomes in adults with childhood-onset Crohn’s disease. This study assessed the prevalence of musculoskeletal deficits in young adults with childhood-onset Crohn’s disease compared with healthy controls. Methods: High-resolution MRI and MR spectroscopy were used to assess bone microarchitecture, cortical geometry and muscle area, and adiposity at distal femur and bone marrow adiposity (BMA) at lumbar spine. Muscle function and biomarkers of the muscle-bone unit were also assessed. Results: Twenty-seven adults with Crohn’s disease with median (range) age 23.2 years (18.0, 36.1) and 27 age and sex-matched controls were recruited. Trabecular microarchitecture, cortical geometry and BMA were not different between Crohn’s disease and controls (P > 0.05 for all). Muscle area was lower (P = 0.01) and muscle fat fraction was higher (P = 0.04) at the distal femur in Crohn’s disease compared to controls. Crohn’s disease participants had lower grip strength [-4.3 kg (95% confidence interval (CI), -6.8 to -1.8), P = 0.001] and relative muscle power [-5.0 W/kg (95% CI, -8.8 to -1.2), P = 0.01]. Crohn’s disease activity scores negatively associated with trabecular bone volume (r = -0.40, P = 0.04) and muscle area (r = -0.41, P = 0.03). Conclusion: Young adults with well-controlled Crohn’s disease managed with contemporary therapies did not display abnormal bone microarchitecture or geometry at the distal femur but exhibited muscle deficits. The observed muscle deficits may predispose to musculoskeletal morbidity in future and interventions to improve muscle mass and function warrant investigation.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Russell, Dr Richard and Seenan, Dr John and McMillan, Mr Martin and Steell, Dr Lewis and Macdonald, Dr Jonathan and Johnston, Dr Blair and Gaya, Mr Daniel and Gray, Professor Stuart and Foster, Dr John and Ahmed, Professor Syed Faisal
• Authors: Steell, L., Johnston, B. A., Dewantoro, D., Foster, J. E., Gaya, D. R., Macdonald, J., McMillan, M., Russell, R. K., Seenan, J. P., Ahmed, S. F., Gray, S. R., and Wong, S. C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• ISSN: 0954-691X
• ISSN (Online): 1473-5687
• Published Online: 14 July 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
• First Published: First published in European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 32(12): 1497-1506
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy