Association of in‐line digestive enzyme cartridge with enteral feeds on improvement in anthropometrics among pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis

Abstract Background Approximately 85% of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) with 10% requiring supplemental nighttime enteral tube feedings. Administration of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) with nighttime feedings is fraught with challenges. RELiZORB (Alcresta Therapeutics, Inc), an in‐line lipase cartridge, delivers PERT continuously with enteral feedings. Outcomes related to the use of this in‐line lipase cartridge are lesser known. This project evaluated anthropometrics related to in‐line lipase cartridge use among pediatric patients with CF already receiving oral PERT therapy prior to nighttime enteral feedings. Methods Retrospective chart review was performed on 29 patients with CF and EPI receiving supplemental tube feedings and utilizing in‐line lipase cartridge for a continuous 12 month period between 2015 and 2019. Anthropometrics were evaluated 12 months before and after initiation of in‐line lipase cartridge. Results Compared with mean height z score at 6‐months pre–in‐line lipase cartridge, mean height z score at 6‐months post–in‐line‐lipase cartridge (adjusted mean difference AMD = 0.2540; 95% CI = 0.0487, 0.4592; P = 0.0153) and mean height z score at 12‐months post–in‐line lipase cartridge (AMD = 0.2684; 95% CI = 0.0203, 0.5166; P = 0.0340) were significantly higher. Mean weight z score at 12‐months post–in‐line‐lipase‐cartridge neared statistical significance compared with 6‐months pre–in‐line lipase cartridge (AMD = 0.2816; 95% CI = −0.0003, 0.5634; P = 0.0502) when excluding seven patients with advanced lung disease (forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration of 40%). Weight‐for‐length or body mass index did not significantly differ compared with pre–in‐line lipase cartridge. Conclusion Use of in‐line lipase cartridge with enteral feeds improved anthropometrics, especially height, in pediatric patients with CF.