Thymus gland size during recovery from complicated severe acute malnutrition: a prospective study of the role of probiotics.

Abstract

Background: Children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are prone to infections due to immune dysfunction including severe thymus atrophy which recovers during nutritional rehabilitation. Aim: To investigate predictors of thymus size recovery, including probiotics during nutritional rehabilitation of children admitted with complicated SAM. Methods: In this prospective study nested in a randomized controlled trial, children 6-59 months admitted with SAM received standard care and either probiotics or placebo during hospitalization until 8 weeks post-discharge. Thymus size was measured using ultrasound at admission, discharge, 8 weeks post-discharge and among 27 community controls. Predictors of thymus size recovery were assessed using linear regression. Results: Among 388 children with SAM, mean (SD) thymus size was 1.06 cm2 (0.41), 1.24 cm2 (0.48), 2.85 cm2 (1.07) and 4.2 cm2 (0.93) at admission, discharge, follow-up and in the healthy controls respectively (p < 0.05).Probiotics did not affect thymus recovery. During both inpatient therapeutic care (ITC) and outpatient therapeutic care (OTC), thymus recovery correlated positively with anthropometry but negatively with caregiver-perceived illness severity and Haemoglobin <8 g/dl. Negative predictors of thymus recovery during ITC included grade 3 oedema (β -0.13, 95%CI -0.25; -0.01), dermatosis (β -0.21, 95%CI -0.41; -0.01), C-reactive protein (CRP) >15mg/L (β -0.13, 95%CI -0.25; -0.02) and neutrophils (β -0.01, 95%CI -0.02; -0.002). During OTC, HIV negatively predicted thymus recovery. Conclusion: Children with SAM failed to regain thymus size at 8 weeks post-discharge. Probiotics did not predict thymus recovery during nutritional rehabilitation. More research is needed to find interventions which can accelerate immune recovery. Abbreviations: ART, Antiretroviral therapy; BB-12, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis; CRP, C-reactive protein; ITC, inpatient therapeutic care; LGG, Lactobacillus rhamnosus; MNU, Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit; MUAC, mid-upper arm circumference; OTC, outpatient therapeutic care; PCR, Polymerised chain reaction; RUTF, ready-to-use therapeutic food; SAM, severe acute malnutrition; VAS, visual analogue score; WHO, World Health Organization; WHZ, weight-for-height score.

• Authors: Nicolette Nabukeera-Barungi, Benedikte Grenov, Henrik Friis, Betty Lanyero, Hanifa Namusoke, Ezekiel Mupere, Kim F Michaelsen, Christian Mølgaard, Vibeke B Christensen, Maren Johanne Rytter
• Journal: Paediatrics and international child health (Paediatr Int Child Health) Vol. 39 Issue 2 Pg. 95-103 (05 2019) ISSN: 2046-9055 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 30382002 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Placebos

Topics

• Anthropometry
• Child, Preschool
• Convalescence
• Diet (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Placebos (administration & dosage)
• Probiotics (administration & dosage)
• Prospective Studies
• Severe Acute Malnutrition (pathology, therapy)
• Thymus Gland (anatomy & histology, diagnostic imaging)
• Treatment Outcome
• Ultrasonography