• Dinesh S Pashankar, Vera Loening-Baucke, and Warren P Bishop.
• Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA. Dinesh-Pashankar@uiowa.edu
• Arch Pediat Adol Med. 2003 Jul 1; 157 (7): 661-4.

ObjectivesTo assess the clinical and biochemical safety profile of long-term polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG) therapy in children with chronic constipation and to assess pediatric patient acceptance of PEG therapy.DesignProspective observational study.SettingPediatric clinics at a referral center. Patients Eighty-three children (44 with chronic constipation, 39 with constipation and encopresis) receiving PEG therapy for more than 3 months.Main Outcome MeasuresClinical adverse effects related to PEG therapy and acceptance and compliance with PEG therapy. Serum electrolyte levels, osmolality, albumin levels, and liver and renal function test results were measured.ResultsAt the time of evaluation, the mean duration of PEG therapy was 8.7 months, and the mean PEG dose was 0.75 g/kg daily. There were no major clinical adverse effects. All blood test results were normal, except for transient minimal alanine aminotransferase elevation unrelated to therapy in 9 patients. All children preferred PEG to previously used laxatives, and daily compliance was measured as good in 90% of children.ConclusionsLong-term PEG therapy is safe and is well accepted by children with chronic constipation with and without encopresis.

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