GASTROINTESTINAL ABNORMALITIES - A SIGNIFICANT CAUSE OF FEEDING DIFFICULTIES AND FAILURE-TO-THRIVE IN BRACHMANN-DELANGE SYNDROME

Gastroesophageal abnormalities occur with increased frequency in patients with Brachmann-de Lange syndrome (BDLS) and contribute to problems with feeding, emesis and failure to thrive. Comprehensive evaluation including longitudinal assessment of growth and development of 8 patients with BDLS was performed. Clinically significant feeding problems occurred in 6 of the 8 patients and the affected children were subsequently evaluated for gastrointestinal abnormalities. Findings in these patients included tracheal aspiration, esophageal dysmotility, gastroesophageal reflux, hiatal hernia, and esophagitis. Medical treatment was instituted where appropriate, and surgical treatment was performed if the problems did not resolve with medical treatment. Improvement in weight centiles occurred in all patients fed by nasogastric or feeding gastrostomy tube but only one patient appeared to experience increase in rate of linear growth. Careful monitoring of symptoms and growth parameters, and prompt institution of appropriate medical and surgical measures can improve the health and physical outcome of many patients with BDLS. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.