Prognosis of pediatric ulcerative colitis after infliximab failure: A multicenter registry-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Even with increasing numbers of biologic agents available for management of ulcerative colitis (UC), infliximab (IFX) retains an important place in treatment of pediatric patients with this disease. As few reports have addressed outcomes in pediatric UC patients who had to discontinue IFX, we examined clinical course and prognosis after IFX failure in pediatric UC. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of pertinent cases enrolled in the Japanese Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Registry between 2012 and 2020 was conducted to determine outcomes for pediatric UC patients who received IFX but required its discontinuation during follow-up (IFX failure). RESULTS: Of the 301 pediatric UC patients in the registry, 75 were treated with IFX; in 36 of these, IFX was discontinued during follow-up. Severity of UC at onset and absence of concomitant immunomodulator therapy were significant risk factors for IFX failure (P = 0.005 and P = 0.02, respectively). The cumulative colectomy rate after IFX failure was 41.3% at 1 year and 47.5% at 2 years. Colectomy was significantly more frequent when IFX was discontinued before June 1, 2018, than when IFX was discontinued later (P = 0.013). This difference likely involves availability of additional biologic agents for treatment of UC beginning in mid-2018 (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: In pediatric UC patients, approximately 50% underwent colectomy during a 2-year interval following IFX failure. Prognosis after IFX failure appeared to improve with availability of new biologic agents and small-molecule drugs in mid-2018.

Safety and efficacy of vedolizumab in pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis: multicenter study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Vedolizumab (VDZ) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to α4ß7 integrin expressed in T-lymphocytes and is gut selective. Few studies have evaluated the safety and efficacy of VDZ in pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, especially from Asia. METHODS: A longitudinal multicenter retrospective study was conducted at 10 Japanese tertiary medical institutions. Patients aged ≤18 years old who received VDZ for UC between January 2019 and July 2021 were enrolled. Information on the clinical characteristics, prior/concomitant treatment, and safety during the observation period was collected. RESULTS: The data obtained from 48 patients (males, n = 30; females, n = 18) were analyzed. The median age at VDZ induction was 14 (range 4-18) years old. VDZ was indicated in 73% of patients as switching from previous biologics due to primary failure, loss of response, and adverse events (AEs) and was the first biologic in 27%. Remission was achieved or maintained at weeks 14, 30, and 54 in 79.2%, 75.0%, and 65.8% of patients, respectively. There were no significant differences between the number of previous biologics exposures and VDZ effectiveness. The hematocrit, serum albumin concentrations, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) at baseline differed significantly by VDZ effectiveness. Nine AEs, including infusion reaction, were noted in seven (14.3%) patients. There were no severe AEs related to VDZ administration. CONCLUSIONS: VDZ was safe and effective in children with UC. The hematocrit, albumin, and ESR at VDZ initiation might be predictors for VDZ effectiveness. VDZ may be an important option for pediatric patients and can be used as an alternative to immunomodulators.

A consensus statement on health-care transition for childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder of the intestine. The incidence of IBD is increasing worldwide, including Japan, and in approximately 25% of all affected patients it is diagnosed before 18 years of age. For the health maintenance of such patients, planned transition to adult care systems is essential. Previous Japanese surveys have revealed gaps between adult and pediatric gastroenterologists with regard to their knowledge and perception of health-care transition for patients with childhood-onset IBD. In 2021-2022, several Web workshops to discuss issues related to the transitional care of IBD patients were held by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan as part of their program for research on intractable diseases. Clinicians experienced in IBD treatment for pediatric and adult patients participated. As a result, this panel of adult and pediatric gastroenterologists developed five consensus statements on the issue of "transfer from pediatric to adult care" and nine statements on the issue of "addressing transitional care (transition program)." To address current gaps in health-care transition for childhood-onset IBD patients, a programmed approach to transition, and better partnerships between pediatric and adult gastroenterologists are indicated. It is hoped that this consensus statement will provide a basis for the development of appropriate guidelines for clinical practice.

Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency in childhood colorectal cancer harboring a de novo variant in the MSH6 gene: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD) is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in one of the mismatch repair genes, and results in early onset colorectal cancer, leukemia, brain tumors and other childhood malignancies. Here we report a case of CMMRD with compound heterozygous variants in the MSH6 gene, including a de novo variant in multiple colorectal cancers. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old girl, who presented with multiple spots resembling café-au-lait macules since birth, developed abdominal pain, diarrhea and bloody stool over two months. Colonoscopy revealed multiple colonic polyps, including a large epithelial tumor, and pathological examination revealed tubular adenocarcinoma. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an unidentified bright object (UBO), commonly seen in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Genetic testing revealed compound heterozygous variants, c. [2969T > A (p.Leu990*)] and [3064G > T (p.Glu1022*)] in the MSH6 gene; c.2969T > A (p.Leu990*) was identified as a de novo variant. CONCLUSIONS: We present the first report of a CMMRD patient with a de novo variant in MSH6, who developed colorectal cancer in childhood. CMMRD symptoms often resemble NF1, as observed here. Physicians should become familiar with CMMRD clinical phenotypes for the screening and early detection of cancer.

Current role of colonoscopy in infants and young children: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of colonoscopy in infants and young children and clarify the distribution of colonoscopy-requiring diseases in this age group. METHODS: Cohorts of colonoscopies performed at three children's hospitals in Japan between April 2011 and March 2016 including infants and children younger than six years of age were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: In total, 453 colonoscopies were performed in 276 infants and young children. Of these 275 (60.8%) were for diagnostic purposes, 177 (39.2%) were performed as follow-up, and one case was performed for treatment. The median patient age at the time of diagnostic colonoscopy was 2.49 years, and there was a male-to-female ratio of 1.72:1. Abnormal macroscopic and/or histopathological findings were noted in 212 (77.1%) cases. Of these, definite diagnoses were established for the presence of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and polyp/polyposis in 23, 18.5, and 14% of patients, respectively. Among 51 IBD cases, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and IBD-unclassified were identified in 47.1, 33.3, and 7.8%, retrospectively via endoscopic examination. Of these, 11 (22%) were eventually diagnosed with monogenic diseases via genetic testing. Of those with rectal bleeding, EGIDs, polyps/polyposis, and IBD were found in 27, 19, and 18%, retrospectively. There were significantly more cases of EGIDs and fewer ones of IBD and polyps/polyposis in patients with rectal bleeding younger than two years of age. Furthermore, 68% of all follow-up colonoscopies were performed in children with IBD. There were no serious complications in our study cohort. CONCLUSION: We determined the role of colonoscopy in infants and young children. Diseases diagnosed using colonoscopy in this age group included IBD, EGIDs, and polyps/polyposis. The increasing trend of patients with IBD and EGIDs worldwide means that the role of colonoscopy in infants and younger children will be more important in the future.

Clinical Safety and Utility of Pediatric Balloon-assisted Enteroscopy: A Multicenter Prospective Study in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: The benefit of balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) had been recently documented in pediatric patients, but previous reports are based on single institution experiences. We evaluated the feasibility of pediatric BAE in 8 tertiary referral hospitals throughout Japan. METHODS: This was a prospective, multi-institutional study. Patients younger than 18 years were enrolled between April 2014 and March 2017 to undergo double-balloon or single-balloon enteroscopy. Data were collected prospectively using a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: We enrolled 79 pediatric patients (96 procedures, 70 boys, 26 girls; median age 12.7 years, range 1-17 years). Antegrade (oral-route) BAE was performed in 20 procedures (lowest body weight 12.9 kg, youngest age 3.7 years), and retrograde (anal-route) BAE in 76 (lowest body weight 10.8 kg, youngest age 1.6 years). Severe adverse events were associated with BAE in 2 patients: 1 with hemorrhage due to polypectomy and 1 with pancreatitis after double-balloon endoscopic retrograde cholangioscopy. No intestinal perforation was reported. Procedure duration of oral-route BAE for diagnosis was significantly longer than anal-route for diagnosis (P < 0.001). The overall diagnostic yield for rectal bleeding/positive fecal occult blood test and abdominal pain was 48%. Among 40 patients referred for diagnosis who did not undergo capsule endoscopy, diagnoses were confirmed in 17 (42.5%) patients after BAE. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective multicenter observational study documents the efficacy of BAE in pediatric patients.

Zinc monotherapy for young children with presymptomatic Wilson disease: A multicenter study in Japan.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Few studies of zinc monotherapy for presymptomatic Wilson disease have focused on young children. We therefore evaluated long-term efficacy and safety of zinc monotherapy for such children and established benchmarks for maintenance therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively and prospectively examined children under 10 years old with presymptomatic Wilson disease who received zinc monotherapy from time of diagnosis at 12 participating pediatric centers in Japan. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients met entry criteria. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase decreased significantly beginning 1 month after initiation of treatment and usually remained under 50 U/L from 1 to 8 years of treatment. Twenty four-hour urinary copper decreased significantly at 6 months and usually remained under 75 µg/day and between 1 and 3 µg/kg/day for the remainder of the study. All patients continued to take zinc, and none became symptomatic. In patients under 6 years old who received 50 mg/day of zinc as an initial dose, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase significantly decreased at 1 month after initiation of treatment, as did γ-glutamyltransferase and 24-h urinary copper at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first multicenter study of zinc monotherapy for young children with presymptomatic Wilson disease. Such monotherapy proved highly effective and safe. Maintaining normal transaminase values (or values under 50 U/L when normalization is difficult) and 24-h urinary copper excretion between 1 and 3 µg/kg/day and under 75 µg/day is a reasonable goal. An initial dose of 50 mg/day is appropriate for patients under 6 years old.

Prostaglandin E-major Urinary Metabolite as a Biomarker for Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity.

OBJECTIVES: Prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite (PGE-MUM) is a useful biomarker for adult ulcerative colitis (UC) activity. In the present study, we evaluated whether PGE-MUM can also be a biomarker of pediatric UC activity and compared its efficacy in predicting UC activity with that of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. METHODS: Twenty-nine pediatric patients with UC (8-18 years) and 29 healthy age- and sex-matched subjects were enrolled. UC activity was evaluated using the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index, highest Mayo endoscopic scoring (Mayo), and Matts grading (Matts) for histologic scoring, and the sum of Mayo (total of 6 segments) and Matts in all patients with UC. PGE-MUM levels were measured using a radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: PGE-MUM levels were elevated in endoscopically and histologically active UC patients, but not in patients with endoscopic and histologic remission or controls. PGE-MUM levels positively and significantly correlated with UC activity. PGE-MUM levels were positively correlated with Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (r = 0.594), highest Mayo (r = 0.462), the sum of Mayo (r = 0.694), and the sum of Matts (r = 0.613), but not with highest Matt (r = 0.352). The sum of Mayo and the sum of Matts, which reflect total colon inflammation, showed highest correlation with PGE-MUM. C-reactive protein levels did not correlate with any UC activity scores. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate exhibited correlation (r = 0.490) with the sum of Mayo only. CONCLUSIONS: PGE-MUM is a reliable biomarker that reflects both the endoscopic and histologic activity of the entire colon in pediatric UC.

Screening of carnitine and biotin deficiencies on tandem mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: It is important to assess pediatric patients for nutritional deficiency when they are receiving specific interventions, such as enteral feeding. We focused on measurement of C0 and 3-hydroxyisovalerylcarnitine (C5-OH) with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), which is performed as part of the newborn mass screening. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of MS/MS for screening carnitine and biotin deficiencies. METHODS: Forty-two children (24 boys, 18 girls) were enrolled between December 2013 and December 2015. Blood tests, including measurement of serum free carnitine via the enzyme cycling method, and acylcarnitine analysis on MS/MS of dried blood spot (DBS), were performed for the evaluation of nutrition status. RESULTS: Median patient age was 2 years (range, 2 months-14 years). Mean serum free carnitine was 41.8 ± 19.2 µmol/L. In six of the 42 patients, serum free carnitine was <20 µmol/L (range, 4.0-18.7 µmol/L). C0 and C5-OH measured on MS/MS of DBS were 33.8 ± 20.2 nmol/mL and 0.48 ± 0.22 nmol/mL, respectively. There was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.89, P < 0.001) between serum free carnitine and C0 measured on the same day. In one patient on hydrolyzed formula, C5-OH was >1.00 nmol/L. Therapy-resistant eczema was improved by treatment with additional biotin and a non-hydrolyzed formula. CONCLUSION: C0 and C5-OH, measured on MS/MS of DBS, were useful for screening carnitine and biotin deficiencies.

Role of Sonography for Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodies.

Foreign body ingestion is frequently encountered in children. The locations of the foreign bodies and the period during which they have been present in the thorax and abdomen are important for determining the method and timing of treatment. Although plain radiography and computed tomography are primarily used for assessment of foreign bodies, sonography without radiation is also useful for diagnosis of foreign bodies. This report describes 5 cases of foreign bodies in the digestive tract and the usefulness of sonography for real-time evaluation of foreign bodies with high spatial resolution. Physicians can use sonography along with radiography and computed tomography in cases involving foreign bodies.

Difference between early onset and late-onset pediatric ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Early onset pediatric ulcerative colitis (EO-UC) is distinguished from late-onset pediatric ulcerative colitis (LO-UC) by the effects of genetic predisposition, but there have been few reports on the clinical features of EO-UC in Asia. METHODS: To describe and compare the presentation and disease course of EO-UC (age range, 0-7 years) with those of LO-UC (age range, 8-15 years), we retrospectively analyzed 63 children with UC who had been diagnosed between January 2004 and March 2014 at Saitama Children's Medical Center in Japan. RESULTS: Ten patients (16%) had EO-UC, and 53 (84%) had LO-UC. All patients in the EO-UC group and 70% in the LO-UC group had pancolitis (P = 0.05). The period from onset to diagnosis was 9.0 ± 14.1 months for EO-UC and 2.6 ± 3.5 months for LO-UC (P < 0.01). The prevalence of extra-intestinal complications at diagnosis was significantly higher for EO-UC than for LO-UC (50% vs 11%, respectively; P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the use of corticosteroids, immunomodulators, immunosuppressants, or surgical risk between the groups but, in the EO-UC group, only one patient was treated with cytapheresis and none was treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: The EO-UC group had a higher incidence of pancolitis, longer diagnostic delay, and more extra-intestinal manifestations than the LO-UC group. Diagnosis and treatment may therefore be slightly more difficult for EO-UC than for LO-UC.

First case report of dichorionic diamniotic twins with chronic enteropathy associated with the SLCO2A1 gene.

We report the case of twins diagnosed with chronic enteropathy associated with the SLCO2A1 gene (CEAS) based on characteristic ulcer findings, which required 8 years to diagnose. Both twins had similar symptoms, including anemia and growth failure but the gastrointestinal tract was not evaluated initially because of mild symptoms that were considered consistent with psychological etiology. The endoscopic findings of the firstborn child showed spiral ulcer scars and pseudodiverticulum formation without Helicobacter pylori infection or eosinophilic infiltration in the duodenum. Since the twins presented with ulcers of an unknown cause simultaneously and the first-born child had a spiral ulcer, CEAS was suspected. Genetic analysis and high levels of prostaglandin E major urinary metabolites in the urine led to a definitive diagnosis of CEAS.

Correction: Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Questionnaire-based Internet Survey of 162 Institutional Experiences in Asia Pacific.

[This corrects the article on p. 291 in vol. 26, PMID: 38025493.].

A case of early-onset idiopathic chronic pancreatitis associated with a loss-of-function TRPV6 p.R483Q variant successfully treated by pancreatic duct stenting.

Several pancreatitis-related genetic variants have been identified. Recently, the association of loss-of-function variants in the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 6 (TRPV6) gene and early-onset non-alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (CP) has been reported. However, detailed clinical presentation of the cases carrying TRPV6 variants remains largely unknown. We report a case of early CP carrying a TRPV6 variant in which recurrent attacks of pancreatitis were successfully managed by pancreatic duct stenting. A 12-year-old boy with CP was referred to our hospital for further investigation. He had experienced recurrent pancreatitis attacks since he was 11 years old. Pancreatic ductal anomalies were not identified on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. Genetic analysis revealed that the patient had a loss-of-function TRPV6 c.1448G > A (p.R483Q) variant in a heterozygous form. Conservative treatments were not effective; thus, we placed pancreatic duct stent by endoscopic intervention, and the frequency of relapses have dramatically decreased. We present the first pediatric report of early CP associated with the TRPV6 variant that was successfully treated with pancreatic duct stenting. This case suggests that pancreatic duct stenting is effective in preventing the relapse of pancreatitis related to the TRPV6 variant.

Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Questionnaire-based Internet Survey of 162 Institutional Experiences in Asia Pacific.

Purpose: The impact of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) on gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy procedures in adults has been reported, with a drastic reduction in the number of procedures. However, there are no sufficient data regarding the impact on pediatric GI endoscopy. Here, we aimed to report that impact in the Asia-Pacific region. Methods: A questionnaire-based internet survey was conducted from June to November 2021 among pediatric endoscopy institutions in the Asia-Pacific region, with each institution providing a single response. Overall, 25 questions focused on the impact of the number of procedures conducted, the usage of personal protective equipment (PPE), and endoscopy training programs during the pandemic. Results: A total of 162 institutions across 13 countries in the Asia-Pacific region participated in the study, and 133 (82.1%) institutions underwent procedure changes since the emergence of COVID-19. The number of esophagogastroduodenoscopy and ileocolonoscopy procedures decreased in 118/133 (88.7%) and 112/133 (84.2%) institutions, respectively. Endoscopy for patient with positive COVID-19 in an emergency or urgent cases still carried out in 102/162 (62.9%) institutions. Screening of COVID-19 for all patients before endoscopy was done across 110/162 (67.9%) institutions. PPE recommendations varied among institutions. Pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy training programs were discontinued in 127/162 (78.4%) institutions. Conclusion: This study reports the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Asia-Pacific region. There has been a significant reduction in the number of endoscopic procedures and relevant training programs.

Utility of a rapid assay for prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite as a biomarker in pediatric ulcerative colitis.

Prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite (PGE-MUM) is a urinary biomarker reflecting ulcerative colitis (UC) activity. This prospective observational study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of PGE-MUM via rapid chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay in detecting endoscopic remission (ER) and histologic remission (HR) in pediatric UC (6-16 years) in comparison with fecal calprotectin (FCP). ER and HR were defined as Mayo endoscopic score (MES) of 0 and Matts' histological grades (Matts) of 1 or 2, respectively. A total of 104 UC and 39 functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) were analyzed. PGE-MUM levels were significantly higher in the UC group than in the FGID group (P < 0.001). FCP levels were significantly elevated in the group without ER and HR than in the group with ER and HR (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001), whereas PGE-MUM levels were significantly higher in the group without ER compared to the group with ER (P < 0.001). No significant differences were noted in the AUCs for PGE-MUM and FCP in detecting ER and HR. Although PGE-MUM was inferior to FCP for the detection of HR, it might have the potential for application as a biomarker of endoscopic activity in pediatric UC owing to its noninvasive and rapid method.

Expert consensus on vaccination in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Japan.

Immunosuppressive therapies can affect the immune response to or safety of vaccination in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The appropriateness of vaccination should be assessed prior to the initiation of IBD treatment because patients with IBD frequently undergo continuous treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. This consensus was developed to support the decision-making process regarding appropriate vaccination for pediatric and adult patients with IBD and physicians by providing critical information according to the published literature and expert consensus about vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) [excluding cervical cancer and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)] in Japan. This consensus includes 19 important clinical questions (CQs) on the following 4 topics: VPDs (6 CQs), live attenuated vaccines (2 CQs), inactivated vaccines (6 CQs), and vaccination for pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding (5 CQs). These topics and CQs were selected under unified consensus by the members of a committee on intractable diseases with support by a Health and Labour Sciences Research Grant. Physicians should provide necessary information on VPDs to their patients with IBD and carefully manage these patients' IBD if various risk factors for the development or worsening of VPDs are present. This consensus will facilitate informed and shared decision-making in daily IBD clinical practice.

Clinical outcome of ulcerative colitis with severe onset in children: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: As best practices for treating children with severe-onset ulcerative colitis remain controversial in the era of biologic agents, we prospectively investigated treatments and outcomes in a multicenter cohort. METHODS: Using a Web-based data registry maintained in Japan between October 2012 and March 2020, we compared management and treatment outcomes in an S1 group defined by a Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index of 65 or more points at diagnosis with those in an S0 group defined by an index value below 65. RESULTS: Three hundred one children with ulcerative colitis treated at 21 institutions were included, with follow-up for 3.6 ± 1.9 years. Among them, 75 (25.0%) were in S1; their age at diagnosis was 12.3 ± 2.9 years, and 93% had pancolitis. Colectomy free rates in S1 were 89% after 1 year, 79% after 2, and 74% after 5, significantly lower than for S0 (P = 0.0003). Calcineurin inhibitors and biologic agents, respectively, were given to 53% and 56% of S1 patients, significantly more than for S0 patients (P < 0.0001). Among S1 patients treated with calcineurin inhibitors when steroids failed, 23% required neither biologic agents nor colectomy, similarly to the S0 group (P = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: Children with severe ulcerative colitis are likely to require powerful agents such as calcineurin inhibitors and biologic agents; sometimes colectomy ultimately proves necessary. Need for biologic agents in steroid-resistant patients might be reduced to an extent by interposing a therapeutic trial of CI rather than turning to biologic agents or colectomy immediately.