A Tale of Two Colitides.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and microscopic colitis (MC) are two distinct subgroups within the larger group of colitides. MC could manifest as collagenous colitis (CC) or lymphocytic colitis (LC). The co-occurrence of MC in patients with IBD is rare, with few cases reported. No concurrent case of MC and ulcerative colitis (UC) each presenting with distinct clinical manifestations was found in the literature review. We report a case of a 76-year-old male presenting with concurrent CC and UC. The patient's initial flare of UC was characterized by episodes of bloody diarrhea while his flare of CC was evidenced by watery diarrhea.

Case of a Vanishing Colonic Mass.

Colonic ischemia most often presents with abdominal pain and rectal bleeding. Presentation of colonic ischemia as a prominent mass is exceptionally unique and is not often reported. Concern for neoplasm prompted a repeat scope, which revealed the mass had vanished. We present a case of colonic ischemia, which produced a transient colonic mass formed by inflammatory tissue and clots.

A Unique Case of Mycophenolate Induced Colitis after 10 Years of Use.

A 31-year-old female with a history of lupus nephritis on Hydroxychloroquine, Prednisone, and Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) for 10 years presented to the hospital for ankle swelling. On day four, she started to have severe, nonbloody, watery diarrhea with abdominal distension and tenderness. Stool PCR was negative for C. difficile. CT abdomen/pelvis showed gaseous distension of the colon without any obstruction. Flexible sigmoidoscopy revealed a normal looking mucosa. Histopathology showed crypt atrophy and increased crypt apoptosis, consistent with MMF colitis. The diarrhea resolved three days after stopping MMF. Although generally well tolerated, diarrhea is a common side effect of MMF. Most cases occur in the first six months of starting MMF. This case is unique because it describes MMF colitis in lupus after more than 10 years. Thus, MMF colitis should be considered as a differential in patients taking it, regardless of the duration of use.

Proton Pump Inhibitor-Induced Remission of Lymphocytic Esophagitis.

Lymphocytic esophagitis is a chronic condition that has been described in the literature; however, there is little information describing its characteristics and treatment. We present a case of lymphocytic esophagitis that was identified following food impaction. Repeat esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with biopsy showed a marked decrease in lymphocytic infiltration after a 6-week course of twice-daily high-dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI). After initiation of the high-dose PPI regimen, the patient had no further episodes of dysphagia or food impaction. We propose that treating lymphocytic esophagitis with twice-daily PPI can improve symptoms and show histologic evidence of improvement.

Longer duration of mechanical ventilation was found to be associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia in children aged 1 month to 12 years in India.

OBJECTIVES: To determine primarily (1) the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among ventilated patients aged 1 month to 12 years and secondarily (2) the risk factors for VAP and (3) common organisms causing VAP. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective study in a tertiary care center in India. Consecutive ventilated patients aged ≥1 month and ≤12 years and requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) for ≥48 hours were included after written informed parental consent. For the diagnosis of VAP, National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System criteria of 1996 were used. RESULTS: Incidence of VAP among patients aged 1 month to 12 years was 36.2% (38/105; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 27, 46). In unconditional logistic regression analysis controlling for the presence of underlying illnesses, risk factor for VAP was >4 days of MV (adjusted odds ratio, 3.76; 95% CI: 1.41, 10.02; P = 0.008). Reintubation within 72 hours of extubation and more than two attendants at the time of recruitment showed increased tendency for the development of VAP but did not reach statistical significance. Endotracheal and endobronchial aspirates were positive for organism in 19.05% (20/105) and 37.14% (39/105) of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Almost one-third of ventilated patients develop VAP. Vigilance for the development of VAP has to be kept on those requiring >4 days of MV. Klebsiella and Staphylococcus aureus were common bacterial isolates in such patients.

Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

The connection between Helicobacter pylori and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is well established. H. pylori infection causes an immunological response, leading to chronic gastritis with formation of lymphoid follicles within the stomach. These lymphoid follicles resemble nodal tissues found throughout the body and are composed of reactive T cells and activated plasmal cells and B cells. The B cells are responsible for initiating a clonal expansion of centrocyte-like cells that form the basic histology of MALT lymphoma. Early diagnosis of MALT lymphoma is difficult but essential for adequate treatment. Clinical symptoms are vague and varied, with abdominal pain being a common presenting complaint. The endoscopic appearance of this tumor is varied and can be infiltrative, exophytic, or ulcerative. In addition, the tumor can have a multifocal distribution, and therefore aggressive tissue sampling is crucial for diagnosis. Endoscopic ultrasound is essential to document the extent of disease and is more accurate than CT scan in detection of spread to perigastric lymph nodes. Lesions that are confined to the mucosa or submucosa of the gastric wall are believed to be dependent on H. pylori stimulation and therefore can be successfully treated with H. pylori eradication. Those MALT lymphomas that present at more advanced stages require more aggressive management and can be treated with surgical resection, radiation, or chemotherapy. Follow-up is critical in all patients who have been treated with H. pylori eradication and consists of multiple endoscopic biopsies for histological and molecular studies as well as endoscopic ultrasound at 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. The reappearance of MALT lymphomas has been seen years after treatment, and therefore follow-up of these patients should be indefinite.