Despite the long-time recognition of these diseases, from 30 to 150 years, we do not know very much about their causes. Furthermore, only one fifth of the medications used in children have had appropriate studies evaluating their efficacy and safety in children. We, unfortunately, must rely upon the clinical judgment gained in drug trials from adults in treating our young patients. Today, I would like to speak to you about another important facet of pediatric research. There is significant scientific importance in performing research along the life cycle.
Many diseases usually associated with adulthood begin in childhood.
In other words, strengthened investment in pediatric research benefits adults as well as children. For example, a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that the genes of certain Mexican girls might not permit the normal absorption of calcium from their intestines, needed to build to strong bones. Hence, girls with this particular genotype would fail to achieve the peak bone mass that other girls in their class or neighborhood could achieve. This, in a sense, is one of the antecedents of osteoporosis, a disease that we know causes crippling bone disease in post-menopausal women. Indeed, if some of the differences in vertebral bone density, which the New England Journal article attributes to variations in the vitamin D receptor, are maintained throughout life, it could account for substantial differences in the number of subsequent fractures of the vertebrae and hips.