Open AccessIncontinence in Phelan‐McDermid Syndrome
Author(s) -
Witmer Claire,
Mattingly Aviva,
D'Souza Precilla,
Thurm Audrey,
Hadigan Colleen
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/mpg.0000000000002342
Subject(s) - medicine , constipation , context (archaeology) , fecal incontinence , intellectual disability , pediatrics , specialty , family medicine , surgery , psychiatry , paleontology , biology
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms and continence in the context of Phelan‐McDermid Syndrome (PMS). Methods: A prospective evaluation of children with PMS (n = 17) at the National Institutes of Health. Results: Parent‐reported history of symptoms were common: constipation (65%), reflux (59%), choking/gagging (41%), and more than half received gastrointestinal specialty care. No aspiration was noted in 11/11 participants who completed modified barium swallows. Four participants met criteria for functional constipation, 2 of whom had abnormal colonic transit studies. Stool incontinence was highly prevalent (13/17) with nonretentive features present in 12/17. Participants who were continent had significantly smaller genetic deletions ( P = 0.01) and higher nonverbal mental age ( P = 0.03) compared with incontinent participants. Conclusions: Incontinence is common in PMS and associated with intellectual functioning and gene deletion size. Management strategies may differ based on the presence of nonretentive fecal incontinence, functional constipation, and degree of intellectual disability for children with PMS.