Association between early and current gastro-intestinal symptoms and co-morbidities in children and adolescents with Angelman syndrome

G Leader, S Whelan, N N Chonaill, R Coyne, M Tones, H Heussler, M Bellgard, A Mannion, G Leader, S Whelan, N N Chonaill, R Coyne, M Tones, H Heussler, M Bellgard, A Mannion

Abstract

Background: Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurogenetic disorder that causes severe intellectual disability, expressive language deficits, motor impairment, ataxia, sleep problems, epileptic seizures and a happy disposition. People with AS frequently experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.

Method: This study used data from the Global Angelman Syndrome Registry to explore the relationship between early and current GI symptoms and co-morbidity in children and adolescents with AS (n = 173). Two groups that experienced a high (n = 91) and a low (n = 82) frequency of GI symptoms were examined in relation to feeding and GI history in infancy, sleep and toileting problems, levels of language and communication and challenging behaviours. Predictors of GI symptoms were then investigated using a series of logistic regressions.

Results: This analysis found that constipation and gastroesophageal reflux affected 84% and 64%, of the sample, respectively. The high frequency of GI symptoms were significantly associated with: 'refusal to nurse', 'vomiting', 'arching', 'difficulty gaining weight', gastroesophageal reflux, 'solid food transition', frequency of night-time urinary continence and sleep hyperhidrosis during infancy. GI symptoms were not significantly associated with sleep, toileting, language or challenging behaviours. Significant predictors of high frequency GI symptoms were gastroesophageal reflux and sleep hyperhidrosis.

Conclusions: Future research needs to investigate the association between AS and GI co-morbidity in adults with AS.

Keywords: Angelman syndrome; Global Angelman Syndrome Registry; co-morbidity; gastrointestinal symptoms.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.

© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research published by MENCAP and International Association of the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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