Home parenteral nutrition in patients with systemic sclerosis: A retrospective review of 12 cases

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of home total parenteral nutrition (HTPN) on the nutritional and functional status of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods: Retrospective review of SSc patients from the HTPN database at the University Health Network, Toronto, Canada, from 1998 to 2010. Results: In total 12 subjects (9 females, 3 males) with SSc were identified. At initiation of HTPN, the age was 48.75 ± 3.94 years and the median body mass index was 16.8 kg/m2 (range 12.3-21.3). This significantly increased to 18.3 kg/m2 (17.0-21.7) at 6 months and to 19.7 kg/m2 (17.0-24.6) at 12 months. The mean Karnofsky score at baseline was 58.00 ± 3.27, and the score at 12 months of 39.00 ± 13.29 did not change significantly. Conclusion: HTPN improved the nutritional status of these patients with SSc but it did not improve their functional status. Copyright © 2012 The Journal of Rheumatology.