Enteral nutrition support in a child after bone marrow transplantation.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has been associated with numerous negative side effects, which include prolonged anorexia. Historically, parenteral nutrition has been the method of choice for nutrition support. The possibility that enteral feedings may be a practical form of nutrition therapy for those BMT patients who have prolonged anorexia and who have adequate gastrointestinal function was investigated. RR, a 10-year-old male, was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in March 1989. The patient received a bone marrow transplant in July 1992 from a human leukocyte antigen genotype-matched sibling. Because of the patient's prolonged anorexia, he was started on enteral feedings via a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding tube on day +63. Over the next 300 days of enteral nutrition support the patient's nutritional status improved as demonstrated by an increased weight and height and the maintenance of normal visceral protein stores. This suggests that enteral feedings may be beneficial for those BMT patients who have prolonged anorexia and have adequate gastrointestinal function.