Identification of unique gene expression profile in children with regressive autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ileocolitis.

Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are often associated with mucosal inflammatory infiltrates of the small and large intestine. Although distinct histologic and immunohistochemical properties of this inflammatory infiltrate have been previously described in this ASD(GI) group, molecular characterization of these lesions has not been reported. In this study we utilize transcriptome profiling of gastrointestinal mucosal biopsy tissue from ASD(GI) children and three non-ASD control groups (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and histologically normal) in an effort to determine if there is a gene expression profile unique to the ASD(GI) group. Comparison of differentially expressed transcripts between the groups demonstrated that non-pathologic (normal) tissue segregated almost completely from inflamed tissue in all cases. Gene expression profiles in intestinal biopsy tissue from patients with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and ASD(GI), while having significant overlap with each other, also showed distinctive features for each group. Taken together, these results demonstrate that ASD(GI) children have a gastrointestinal mucosal molecular profile that overlaps significantly with known inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), yet has distinctive features that further supports the presence of an ASD-associated IBD variant, or, alternatively, a prodromal phase of typical inflammatory bowel disease. Although we report qPCR confirmation of representative differentially expressed transcripts determined initially by microarray, these findings may be considered preliminary to the extent that they require further confirmation in a validation cohort.

Endoscopia digestiva superior en pediatría / Upper digestive endoscopy in pediatrics

La endoscopia digestiva superior (EDS) es una técnica eficaz, segura, con riesgos y complicaciones mínimos para la exploración en niños del tracto digestivo superior que permite la evaluación, diagnóstico y manejo terapéutico adecuados en la enfermedad gastrointestinal. A pesar de los consensos sobre sus indicaciones, hay pocos estudios controlados sobre los efectos y las técnicas terapéuticas en pediatría. Para facilitar el procedimiento se recomienda usar sedación o anestesia. Puede haber complicaciones cardiopulmonares, infecciosas, perforación, hemorragia y las derivadas de la sedación. En resumen, la esofagogastroduodenoscopia permite el diagnóstico, seguimiento y tratamiento adecuado en la enfermedad gastrointestinal

Manifestaciones gastrointestinales en trastornos del espectro autista / Gastrointestinal manifestations in autistic disorder

Existe una serie de desordenes gastrointestinales no reconocidos, que pueden contribuir a los problemas de bienestar de los niños autistas no verbales. Se presentan algunos que permiten determinar la posible asociación entre el cerebro y las disfunciones gastrointestinales en niños con desórdenes autistas