# A211 CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE IN JORDANIAN CHILDREN: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

## TL;DR

This study describes the clinical features and treatment outcomes of inflammatory bowel disease in Jordanian children, highlighting similarities and differences compared to global patterns.

## Contribution

The paper provides the first detailed retrospective analysis of IBD in Jordanian children, including treatment responses and complications.

## Key findings

- Crohn’s disease was the most common IBD subtype (51.6%) in Jordanian children, with a mean diagnosis age of 8.7 years.
- Biologic therapy was used in 25.8% of patients, with 37.5% requiring a second anti-TNF agent due to secondary loss of response.
- Complications such as psoriatic lesions and dural venous thrombosis were observed, but no patients required surgery.

## Abstract

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. While IBD is increasingly recognized in pediatric populations worldwide, there is limited data on its characteristics in Jordanian children.

This study aims to describe the clinical presentation and management outcomes of IBD in children from a tertiery center in North Jordan.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on pediatric patients (aged 0-18 years) diagnosed with IBD between July 2017 and July 2024 at King Abdullah University Hospital in North Jordan. Data on demographic information, clinical symptoms, diagnostic procedures, treatment regimens, and follow-up outcomes were collected from medical records.

Over the study period, 31 patients were diagnosed with IBD, with 58% being female. Among these, 51.6% were classified as Crohn’s disease, 29.0% as ulcerative colitis, and 19.4% as indeterminate colitis. The mean age at diagnosis was 8.7 years. The most common presenting symptoms were diarrhea (67.6%), abdominal pain (58.0%), weight loss (32.2%), and fatigue/malaise (32.2%).

Anemia was observed in 17 patients (54.8%). Intravenous iron therapy was required in 3 patients (9.7%), while 2 patients (6.5%) needed multiple blood transfusions. Escalation of initial therapy was necessary for 15 patients (48.4%). Biologic therapy (Anti-TNF agents) was used in 8 patients (25.8%), all of whom initially responded. However, 3 patients (37.5%) were switched to a second anti-TNF agent after secondary loss of response. Two patients (25.0%) developed psoriatic lesions, although none experienced serious infections. Notably, one patient (12.5%) required concomitant anti-tuberculosis treatment due to a latent tuberculosis diagnosis prior to initiating biologics.

One patient (3.2%) developed pancreatitis requiring hospitalization. This same patient also experienced dural venous thrombosis, necessitating prolonged anticoagulant therapy. None of the patients in this cohort underwent surgical intervention.

IBD in Jordanian children presents with clinical features similar to those reported in other regions, although environmental or genetic factors may lead to some variations in disease patterns, and treatments` response. Further studies are needed to optimize management protocols for pediatric IBD in Jordan.

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