Introduction: Craniopharyngiomas are histologically benign malformations located between the pituitary and hypothalamus that may affect key hormone secretion for endocrine regulation and satiety modulation. Although this is a relatively benign disease, the combination of severe hypothalamic obesity and associated comorbidities results in a reduced quality of life.
Objective: To assess the nutritional status of patients after craniopharyngioma surgery.
Population and methods: Patients younger than 21 years old at the time of the study who required craniopharyngioma surgery at Hospital de Pediatr.a Garrahan and who signed an informed consent. Anthropometric characteristics, body composition by impedance analysis, energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry and energy intake were assessed. Insulin resistance and dyslipemia were estimated.
Results: A total of 39 patients were included; 41% had a normal weight and 59% were obese. Overall, 68% of patients had a central fat distribution; 40% had insulin resistance; and 32%, dyslipemia. No significant differences were observed in terms of insulin resistance, dyslipemia, energy expenditure at rest, or energy intake between normal weight and obese patients. Among obese patients, 77% had a low energy expenditure, regardless of their percentage of lean body mass (62 Å} 2.7% versus 61.2 Å} 1.8% of normal versus low energy expenditure at rest; p = 0.8).
Conclusions: A total of 59% of the studied population was obese. No significant differences were observed in terms of metabolic complications between normal weight and obese patients. A lower energy expenditure was observed, regardless of the lean body mass percentage and a similar energy intake.
Introducción. los craneofaringiomas son malformaciones histológicamente benignas entre el hipotálamo y la hipófisis que pueden afectar la secreción hormonal clave en la regulación endócrina y modulación de la saciedad. Si bien se trata de una enfermedad relativamente benigna, la combinación de obesidad grave de origen hipotalámico y las comorbilidades asociadas a ella disminuyen la calidad de vida. Objetivo. Evaluar el estado nutricional de pacientes operados de craneofaringioma infantil. Población y métodos. Pacientes menores de 21 años al momento del estudio que requirieron cirugía por craneofaringioma en el Hospital de Pediatría Garrahan y que firmaron el consentimiento informado. Se realizó la evaluación antropométrica, composición corporal con impedanciometría, gasto energético con calorimetría indirecta e ingesta energética. Se determinó la resistencia a la insulina y la dislipidemia. Resultados. Se incluyeron 39 pacientes; 41%, normopeso y 59%, obesos. El 68% de los pacientes presentó distribución grasa central; 40%, resistencia a la insulina; y 32%, dislipidemia. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la presencia de resistencia a la insulina, dislipidemia, gasto energético en reposo ni en la ingesta entre obesos vs. normopeso. El 77% de los pacientes obesos presentó bajo gasto energético independiente del porcentaje de masa magra (62 ± 2,7% vs. 61,2 ± 1,8% de gasto energético en reposo normal vs. bajo; p 0,8). Conclusiones. El 59% de la población estudiada presentó obesidad. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en complicaciones metabólicas entre pacientes obesos y normopeso. Se observó menor gasto energético independiente del porcentaje de masa magra y similar ingesta energética.
Keywords: body composition; craniopharyngioma; energy expenditure; energy intake; obesity.
Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría