Pharmacologic Treatment in Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders in Children: A Systematic Review. 2021

Robyn Rexwinkel, and Clara M A de Bruijn, and Morris Gordon, and Marc A Benninga, and Merit M Tabbers
Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; r.rexwinkel@amsterdamumc.nl.

Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) are common in childhood, impacting quality of life and school attendance. There are several compounds available for the treatment of pediatric FAPDs, but their efficacy and safety are unclear because of a lack of head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs). To systematically review the efficacy and safety of the pharmacologic treatments available for pediatric FAPDs. Electronic databases were searched from inception to February 2021. RCTs or systematic reviews were included if the researchers investigated a study population of children (4-18 years) in whom FAPDs were treated with pharmacologic interventions and compared with placebo, no treatment, or any other agent. Two reviewers independently performed data extraction and assessed their quality. Any interresearcher disagreements in the assessments were resolved by a third investigator. Seventeen articles representing 1197 children with an FAPD were included. Trials investigating antispasmodics, antidepressants, antibiotics, antihistaminic, antiemetic, histamine-2-receptor antagonist, 5-HT4-receptor agonist, melatonin, and buspirone were included. No studies were found on treatment with laxatives, antidiarrheals, analgesics, antimigraines, and serotonergics. The overall quality of evidence on the basis of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations system was very low to low. On the basis of current evidence, it is not possible to recommend any specific pharmacologic agent for the treatment of pediatric FAPDs. However, agents such as antispasmodics or antidepressants can be discussed in daily practice because of their favorable treatment outcomes and the lack of important side effects. High-quality RCTs are necessary to provide adequate pharmacologic treatment. For future intervention trials, we recommend using homogenous outcome measures and instruments, a large sample size, and long-term follow-up.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015746 Abdominal Pain Sensation of discomfort, distress, or agony in the abdominal region. Colicky Pain,Abdominal Pains,Colicky Pains,Pain, Abdominal,Pain, Colicky,Pains, Abdominal,Pains, Colicky
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes
D064420 Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions Disorders that result from the intended use of PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS. Included in this heading are a broad variety of chemically-induced adverse conditions due to toxicity, DRUG INTERACTIONS, and metabolic effects of pharmaceuticals. Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reaction,Adverse Drug Event,Adverse Drug Reaction,Drug Side Effects,Drug Toxicity,Side Effects of Drugs,Toxicity, Drug,Adverse Drug Events,Adverse Drug Reactions,Drug Event, Adverse,Drug Events, Adverse,Drug Reaction, Adverse,Drug Reactions, Adverse,Drug Related Side Effects and Adverse Reaction,Drug Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions,Drug Side Effect,Drug Toxicities,Effects, Drug Side,Reactions, Adverse Drug,Side Effect, Drug,Side Effects, Drug,Toxicities, Drug

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