LAUSR

Previous studies have suggested that adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that have a positive family history of IBD may be at risk for a more aggressive clinical course, compared with sporadic cases. The role of a positive family history in paediatric IBD, however, has not been elucidated. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children with IBD and retrieved demographic and clinical characteristics, including IBD phenotype, course and therapy. We have documented the presence of a positive family history of IBD, and compared the clinical data of children with a positive family history to that of children with a negative family history. Overall, 325 children with a median (IQR) age of 13.9 (11–15) years at diagnosis were included: 194 (59.7%) with Crohn’s disease (CD) and 131 (40.3%) with ulcerative colitis. A positive family history of IBD was observed in 82 children (25.2%). Of them, 36 (43.9%) had a first-degree family member with IBD, and 23 (28%) had more than one family member with IBD. Children with a positive family history had a higher risk for stricturing phenotype (11.3% versus 2.8%, P=0.05) and were treated more often by nutritional therapy (53.7% versus 36.6%, P=0.007) and less by corticosteroids (36.6% versus 52.7%, P=0.012). Children with a negative family history had a higher need to intensification of biologic therapy [Hazard ratio (HR)=1.792, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.005–3.195, P=0.041 and HR=2.597, 95% CI 1.224–5.525, P=0.008 for CD) (Figure 1). No difference in the risk for IBD exacerbation, hospitalization and operation was found between the groups. A positive family history of IBD may have a mild impact on the phenotype and course of paediatric IBD.