Thymus size in children with moderate malnutrition: a cohort study from Burkina Faso
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Thymus size in children with moderate malnutrition: a cohort study from Burkina Faso. / Rytter, Maren Johanne Heilskov; Cichon, Bernardette; Fabiansen, Christian; Yameogo, Charles W; Windinmi, Sylvain Z; Michaelsen, Kim F.; Filteau, Suzanne; Jeppesen, Dorthe Lisbeth; Friis, Henrik; Briend, André; Christensen, Vibeke Bak.
In: Pediatric Research, Vol. 89, No. 7, 2021, p. 1732-1741.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Thymus size in children with moderate malnutrition: a cohort study from Burkina Faso
AU - Rytter, Maren Johanne Heilskov
AU - Cichon, Bernardette
AU - Fabiansen, Christian
AU - Yameogo, Charles W
AU - Windinmi, Sylvain Z
AU - Michaelsen, Kim F.
AU - Filteau, Suzanne
AU - Jeppesen, Dorthe Lisbeth
AU - Friis, Henrik
AU - Briend, André
AU - Christensen, Vibeke Bak
N1 - CURIS 2021 NEXS 234
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Background: Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) affects millions of children, increasing their risk of dying from infections. Thymus atrophy may be a marker of malnutrition-associated immunodeficiency, but factors associated with thymus size in children with MAM are unknown, as is the effect of nutritional interventions on thymus size.Methods: Thymus size was measured by ultrasound in 279 children in Burkina Faso with MAM, diagnosed by low mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and/or low weight-for-length z-score (WLZ), who received 12 weeks treatment with different food supplements as part of a randomized trial. Correlates of thymus size and of changes in thymus size after treatment, and after another 12 weeks of follow-up were identified.Results: Thymus size correlated positively with age, anthropometry and blood haemoglobin, and was smaller in children with malaria. Children with malnutrition diagnosed using MUAC had a smaller thymus than children diagnosed based on WLZ. Thymus size increased during and after treatment, similarly across the different food supplement groups.Conclusions: In children with MAM, the thymus is smaller in children with anaemia or malaria, and grows with recovery. Assuming that thymus size reflects vulnerability, low MUAC seems to identify more vulnerable children than low WLZ in children with MAM.Impact: Thymus atrophy is known to be a marker of the immunodeficiency associated with malnutrition in children.In children with moderate malnutrition, we found the thymus to be smaller in children with anaemia or malaria.Assuming that thymus size reflects vulnerability, low MUAC seems to identify more vulnerable children than low weight for length.Thymus atrophy appears reversible with recovery from malnutrition, with similar growth seen in children randomized to treatment with different nutritional supplements.
AB - Background: Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) affects millions of children, increasing their risk of dying from infections. Thymus atrophy may be a marker of malnutrition-associated immunodeficiency, but factors associated with thymus size in children with MAM are unknown, as is the effect of nutritional interventions on thymus size.Methods: Thymus size was measured by ultrasound in 279 children in Burkina Faso with MAM, diagnosed by low mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and/or low weight-for-length z-score (WLZ), who received 12 weeks treatment with different food supplements as part of a randomized trial. Correlates of thymus size and of changes in thymus size after treatment, and after another 12 weeks of follow-up were identified.Results: Thymus size correlated positively with age, anthropometry and blood haemoglobin, and was smaller in children with malaria. Children with malnutrition diagnosed using MUAC had a smaller thymus than children diagnosed based on WLZ. Thymus size increased during and after treatment, similarly across the different food supplement groups.Conclusions: In children with MAM, the thymus is smaller in children with anaemia or malaria, and grows with recovery. Assuming that thymus size reflects vulnerability, low MUAC seems to identify more vulnerable children than low WLZ in children with MAM.Impact: Thymus atrophy is known to be a marker of the immunodeficiency associated with malnutrition in children.In children with moderate malnutrition, we found the thymus to be smaller in children with anaemia or malaria.Assuming that thymus size reflects vulnerability, low MUAC seems to identify more vulnerable children than low weight for length.Thymus atrophy appears reversible with recovery from malnutrition, with similar growth seen in children randomized to treatment with different nutritional supplements.
U2 - 10.1038/s41390-020-1057-5
DO - 10.1038/s41390-020-1057-5
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32688368
VL - 89
SP - 1732
EP - 1741
JO - Pediatric Research
JF - Pediatric Research
SN - 0031-3998
IS - 7
ER -
ID: 245229495