Safety of polyethylene glycol 3350 for the treatment of chronic constipation in children

Safety of polyethylene glycol 3350 for the treatment of chronic constipation in children

Pashankar DS; Loening-Baucke V; Bishop WP

Archives Of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

2003

Child; Female; Humans; Male; Questionnaires; Prospective Studies; Patient Compliance; adolescent; Preschool; Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support; Chronic disease; Alanine Transaminase/blood; Cathartics/therapeutic use; Constipation/drug therapy; Encopresis/drug therapy; Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use

OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical and biochemical safety profile of long-term polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG) therapy in children with chronic constipation and to assess pediatric patient acceptance of PEG therapy. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Pediatric clinics at a referral center.Patients Eighty-three children (44 with chronic constipation, 39 with constipation and encopresis) receiving PEG therapy for more than 3 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical adverse effects related to PEG therapy and acceptance and compliance with PEG therapy. Serum electrolyte levels, osmolality, albumin levels, and liver and renal function test results were measured. RESULTS: At the time of evaluation, the mean duration of PEG therapy was 8.7 months, and the mean PEG dose was 0.75 g/kg daily. There were no major clinical adverse effects. All blood test results were normal, except for transient minimal alanine aminotransferase elevation unrelated to therapy in 9 patients. All children preferred PEG to previously used laxatives, and daily compliance was measured as good in 90% of children. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term PEG therapy is safe and is well accepted by children with chronic constipation with and without encopresis.

2003

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