Collagenous colitis and collagenous gastritis in a 9 year old girl: a case report and review of the literature.

Collagenous gastritis is a rare disease in the general population and collagenous colitis has seldom been reported in children. We report a girl with both diseases and review the literature on this association afetr a systematic search of Pubmed, Medline and Embase databases.. The girl, diagnosed of collagenous colitis at the age of 2 years, started with abdominal pain and anaemia at the age of 9 years and was diagnosed of collagenous gastritis in the gastric biopsies. After review of the literature, we found 66 reported cases (33 children, 33 adults, 68% females), 56 patients with collagenous gastritis and 16 children with collagenous colitis. Both disorders coexisted in 20 patients. The main presenting symptoms are abdominal pain and anaemia in patients with collagenous gastritis and diarrhoea and weight loss in patients with both disorders. Hypoalbuminemia was found in 9 patients with both diseases and protein losing enteropathy was demonstrated in 3 cases. Deposits of collagen in the duodenum were observed in 13 of 19 patients with both diseases. Seventeen of 66 patients had associated autoimmune disorders, particularly in patients with both diseases (35%). These conditions have a chronic course but gastric or colonic malignancies have not been communicated to date. In conclusion, collagenous gastritis and collagenous colitis mainly affects women and can occur at any age. Their association is exceptional. These disorders, although rare, should be considered in patients with anaemia and epigastric pain, watery diarrhoea or protein losing enteropathy.

Allergy assessment in children with eosinophilic esophagitis.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is of growing interest for pediatricians and allergists. There is no general agreement about diagnostic and clinical management procedures. The objective of this prospective, observational study was to evaluate the efficacy of a protocol for the etiologic diagnosis and accurate treatment of EoE in the pediatric population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Starting in 2001, patients aged 0 to 14 years with a diagnosis of EoE were consecutively included in a protocol which included an allergy study. Depending on the results, an avoidance or elemental diet was established. Topical corticosteroids were prescribed to patients who rejected the diet. Clinical, endoscopic, and histological evaluation was performed to assess response. In the case of disease remission, challenge tests were performed to identify the offending food. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were included. Most of them were male (14/17) and a high percentage (88%) had a history of allergy as well as a history of atopy in parents. Fifteen patients were sensitized to 1 or more foods. With this protocol and the subsequent treatment, 9 out of 17 patients were cured (1 out of 4 with swallowed corticosteroids, 3 out of 3 with an elemental diet, and 5 out of 12 with an avoidance diet). The offending food was identified in 8117 patients. Milk and eggs were the most common foods implicated. CONCLUSIONS: The allergy study was a useful diagnostic tool but it was not sufficient to identify the offending food.An elemental diet should be attempted before food is excluded as the cause of the disease.

[Impact of diagnosis of celiac disease on metabolic control of type 1 diabetes]. / Impacto del diagnóstico de la enfermedad celíaca en el control metabólico de la diabetes tipo 1.

OBJECTIVE: To asses the prevalence of celiac disease and to evaluate the clinical effects of a gluten-free diet on metabolic control and growth in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 261 patients with DM1. Diagnosis of celiac disease was based on the presence of endomysium and tissue transglutaminase antibodies in serum and was confirmed by intestinal biopsy. The impact of a gluten-free diet on metabolic control (mean annual HbAlc values), growth (height and annual growth velocity) and nutritional status (body mass index) was evaluated. Patients diagnosed with DM1 and subsequently with celiac disease were compared with a control group of patients with DM1 only. RESULTS: Twenty-one (8%) of the 261 diabetic patients were diagnosed with celiac disease and 19% also had another associated autoimmune disease. No significant differences were found in growth or metabolic control after withdrawal of gluten from the diet. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high prevalence of celiac disease in our type 1 diabetes population. A gluten-free diet had no effects on metabolic control of diabetes or on height or weight. Nevertheless, given the high prevalence of celiac disease and the possible development of long-term complications, such as lymphoma and osteoporosis, we recommend systematic screening in all diabetic patients, especially in the first 5 years after diagnosis of DM1.

Impacto del diagnóstico de la enfermedad celíaca en el control metabólico de la diabetes tipo 1 / Impact of diagnosis of celiac disease on metabolic contro l of type 1diabetes

Objetivo. Determinar la prevalencia de enfermedad celíaca (EC) en pacientes pediátricos con diabetes tipo 1 (DM-1) y evaluar la repercusión de la retirada del gluten de la dieta en el crecimiento y el control metabólico. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo de 261 pacientes pediátricos con DM-1. El diagnóstico de EC se basó en la presencia de anticuerpos antiendomisio y transglutaminasa junto con la confirmación mediante biopsia intestinal. Valoramos el impacto de la retirada del gluten sobre el control metabólico (medias anuales de hemoglobina glucosilada [HbA1c]), el crecimiento (talla y velocidad de crecimiento anual) y el estado nutritivo (índice de masa corporal [IMC]). Comparamos los pacientes diagnosticados de DM y EC después del diagnóstico de la diabetes con un grupo control de pacientes afectados exclusivamente de DM-1. Resultados. Un total de 21 de los 261 pacientes (8 %) presentaban EC. El 19 % de ellos tenían otro tipo de autoinmunidad asociada. No evidenciamos diferencias significativas en cuanto al crecimiento y al grado de control metabólico de la diabetes tras la retirada del gluten. Conclusiones. Encontramos una alta incidencia de EC en nuestra población con DM-1. El cribado de EC no repercute en el control metabólico de la diabetes ni en el desarrollo pondero-estatural. A pesar de ello, y debido a la alta incidencia de EC en España y a la posibilidad de aparición de complicaciones a largo plazo, como la osteoporosis y los linfomas, recomendamos realizar cribado sistemático en todos los pacientes diagnosticados de DM-1, fundamentalmente, en los primeros 5 años tras el diagnóstico

Objective. To asses the prevalence of celiac disease and to evaluate the clinical effects of a gluten-free diet on metabolic control and growth in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). Patients and methods. We performed a retrospective study of 261 patients with DM1. Diagnosis of celiac disease was based on the presence of endomysium and tissue transglutaminase antibodies in serum and was confirmed by intestinal biopsy. The impact of a gluten-free diet on metabolic control (mean annual HbAlc values), growth (height and annual growth velocity) and nutritional status (body mass index) was evaluated. Patients diagnosed with DM1 and subsequently with celiac disease were compared with a control group of patients with DM1 only. Results. Twenty-one (8 %) of the 261 diabetic patients were diagnosed with celiac disease and 19 % also had another associated autoimmune disease. No significant differences were found in growth or metabolic control after withdrawal of gluten from the diet. Conclusions. We found a high prevalence of celiac disease in our type 1 diabetes population. A gluten-free diet had no effects on metabolic control of diabetes or on height or weight. Nevertheless, given the high prevalence of celiac disease and the possible development of long-term complications, such as lymphoma and osteoporosis, we recommend systematic screening in all diabetic patients, especially in the first 5 years after diagnosis of DM1

Metodología diagnóstica en la alergia a los alimentos / Diagnostic methodology in food allergy

El diagnóstico correcto en la alergia a los alimentos es crucial, no sólo para realizar un adecuado tratamiento sino también para evitar dietas innecesarias que ocasionan trastornos sociales, familiares y nutricionales. La historia clínica bien dirigida permite identificar los alimentos implicados y orienta sobre el mecanismo inmunológico subyacente. Las pruebas de diagnóstico incluyen las pruebas cutáneas por punción prick y la determinación de IgE específica en suero. Otras pruebas que pueden ayudar puntualmente al diagnóstico, como los parches epicutáneos, aún no están estandarizados y no se ha establecido su eficacia. Para el diagnóstico definitivo, o bien en algún momento para el seguimiento de la evolución de la enfermedad, se deberá realizar una prueba de provocación oral. La alergia a alimentos mediada por IgE es una situación clínica dinámica, el resultado de las pruebas disponibles se debe interpretar según el momento evolutivo de la enfermedad

The accurate diagnosis of food allergy is crucial not only for the right treatment but also for the avoidance of unnecessary diets. The history may be used to identify de implicated food and to classify the reaction in a possible immunological mechanism. Skin prick test and specific serum Ige antibodies to food extracts are helpful in the diagnostic approach. The atopic patch tests need to be scientifically validated. Controlled oral food challenges remain the gold standard in the diagnosis work up of suspected food

Linfocitos intraepiteliales en la enfermedad celíaca / Intraepithelial lymphocytes in celiac disease

La enfermedad celíaca es una intolerancia permanente a los componentes del gluten que cursa con una alteración de la mucosa del intestino delgado generalmente reversible al excluir el gluten de la dieta. La patogenia del proceso es inmunitaria y se sabe que, además de un estrechísimo ligamiento con ciertos alelos HLA, en esta enfermedad existen alteraciones constantes en los linfocitos intraepiteliales (i-LIE). El desarrollo de una técnica para su determinación por citometría de flujo (CMF) nos ha permitido profundizar en el conocimiento de estas alteraciones y utilizar su determinación en el diagnóstico clínico. Nuestra experiencia demuestra que esta prueba presenta una excelente sensibilidad y especificidad en el diagnóstico de la enfermedad celíaca y que su utilidad es especialmente relevante en las presentaciones atípicas de la enfermedad. En este trabajo se resumen los resultados obtenidos y se discuten algunas de las hipótesis que se han vertido acerca de la posible participación de los LIE en la patogenia de la enfermedad (AU)

[Intraepithelial lymphocytes in celiac disease]. / Linfocitos intraepiteliales en la enfermedad celíaca.

Coeliac disease (CD) is a permanent intolerance to gluten that provokes alterations in the mucosa of the small intestine. The disease can usually be controlled by excluding gluten from the diet. CD is immunologically-mediated, with a strong linkage to certain HLA alleles and a permanently altered intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) pattern. The development of a flow cytometric technique for the evaluation of IEL subsets has increased our understanding of these alterations and has prepared the ground for its clinical application. Our experience shows that this procedure has excellent sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of CD and that it is particularly useful in the evaluation of atypical presentations of the disease. The present article reviews our experience in the diagnosis of CD and discusses some of the hypotheses that have been put forward on the possible role of IEL in its pathogenesis.

[A comparative analysis of diagnostic methods for Helicobacter pylori infection in children]. / Análisis comparativo de los métodos diagnósticos de la infección por Helicobacter pylori en el niño.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of five diagnostic tests for Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five children with epigastric pain, recurrent abdominal pain, regurgitation, diarrhoea, anemia and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were investigated. Endoscopic biopsies from gastric antrum were performed and examined by the urease rapid test, histological examination and microbiological culture. An ELISA was used to detect specific IgG and anti-Hp. A carbon urea breath test was performed in 58 patients. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were infected with Hp. The endoscopy appearance revealed nodularity in antral mucosa in 42 (79%) and erosions in 1 patient. The histology showed gastritis in all patients infected and Hp was identified in 46. The urease rapid test was positive in 96% and the culture positive in 89% of the patients infected. IgG antibodies to Hp were detected in 67% of the patients infected and the carbon urea breath test was positive in 96%. Twelve children were Hp negative, two of them having gastritis without Hp by histology. In the urease rapid test 3 false-positive results were detected and 1 false positive was found in the cultures. All Hp negative patients had negative results in the carbon urea breath test and were negative for IgG antibodies to Hp. CONCLUSIONS: The carbon urea breath test has a high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of Hp infection and allows the selection of candidates for endoscopy.

[Study of intestinal permeability in celiac disease with 51 Cr-EDTA]. / Estudio de la permeabilidad intestinal en enfermos celiacos con EDTA-CR51.

Intestinal permeability was studied in a group of 10 children diagnosed of coeliac disease either when they presented an intestinal villi atrophy while receiving a gluten-containing diet and after, when they had a normal mucosa with the withdrawal of gluten from the diet. Ten healthy children served as controls. The 51 Cr-EDTA (51 Cr-ethylenediaminetetraacetate) was used as probe molecule and it was administered orally. Its urinary excretion showed clear differences between patients with an altered intestinal biopsy and those with a normal histopathology. The excretion of 51 Cr-EDTA remained elevated in celiac patients with a gluten-free diet and normal villi.

Estudio de la permeabilidad intestinal en enfermos celíacos con EDTA-Cr51 / Study of intestinal permeability in celiac disease with 51 Cr-EDTA

Presentamos un estudio sobre la permeabilidad intestinal en una serie de diez niños diagnosticados de enfermedad celiaca cuando tomaban una dieta con gluten y tenían una atrofia severa de las vellosidades intestinales y posteriormente durante un período con dieta sin gluten y vellosidades intestinales normales. Tomamaos como grupo control a diez niños sanos. Se utilizó como marcador el EDTA-Cr51 (Etiléndiaminotetracetato Cr51) administrado por vía oral. Su excreción urinaria estaba signficativamente elevada en los pacientes con biopsia alterada, manteniéndose una moderada elevación en los pacientes celiacos con dieta exenta de gluten y sin atrofia de las vellosidades

Estudio de la permeabilidad intestinal en enfermos celíacos con EDTA-Cr51 / Study of intestinal permeability in celiac disease with 51 Cr-EDTA

Presentamos un estudio sobre la permeabilidad intestinal en una serie de diez niños diagnosticados de enfermedad celiaca cuando tomaban una dieta con gluten y tenían una atrofia severa de las vellosidades intestinales y posteriormente durante un período con dieta sin gluten y vellosidades intestinales normales. Tomamaos como grupo control a diez niños sanos. Se utilizó como marcador el EDTA-Cr51 (Etiléndiaminotetracetato Cr51) administrado por vía oral. Su excreción urinaria estaba signficativamente elevada en los pacientes con biopsia alterada, manteniéndose una moderada elevación en los pacientes celiacos con dieta exenta de gluten y sin atrofia de las vellosidades (AU)

Estudio de la permeabilidad intestinal en enfermos celiacos con EDTA-CR51. / [Study of intestinal permeability in celiac disease with 51 Cr-EDTA]

Intestinal permeability was studied in a group of 10 children diagnosed of coeliac disease either when they presented an intestinal villi atrophy while receiving a gluten-containing diet and after, when they had a normal mucosa with the withdrawal of gluten from the diet. Ten healthy children served as controls. The 51 Cr-EDTA (51 Cr-ethylenediaminetetraacetate) was used as probe molecule and it was administered orally. Its urinary excretion showed clear differences between patients with an altered intestinal biopsy and those with a normal histopathology. The excretion of 51 Cr-EDTA remained elevated in celiac patients with a gluten-free diet and normal villi.

[Cholelithiasis in children: apropos of 14 cases]. / Colelitiasis en niños: a propósito de 14 casos.

Between 1980 and 1990, we have diagnosed fourteen cases of cholelithiasis in children at our hospital. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom. Diagnosis was made by abdominal ultrasonography in all of the cases. Risk factors were found in 4 children. Family history was present in four patients. The treatments performed included cholecystectomy in five cases, extracorporeal lithotripsy in one case and a dietary regimen with regular clinical reviews in eight patients.

[Caustic esophagitis in children]. / Esofagitis cáustica en niños.

Treatment of caustic ingestion in children is a difficult and controversial problem which has not yet to be resolved. Here we report the evolution of fourteen children with esophageal injury after caustic ingestion that were treated with steroids at high-doses, nasogastric intubation and antibiotics. An early esophagoscopy was performed in all patients. Four patients developed esophageal strictures, three of which were mild and subsequent dilatation was successful. Only one patient was referred to surgery. We think that although it cannot be established, the use of high-dose of steroids and nasogastric intubation may be helpful for children with caustic esophagitis. We conclude that early endoscopy is useful to evaluate the severity of the lesions and to establish the necessity for treatment.

[Autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with severe giant cell hepatitis]. / Anemia hemolítica autoinmune y hepatitis severa con transformación giganto celular.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia and severe giant cell hepatitis is an very uncommon association. Two patients aged 5 months and 2 years developed severe anemia, jaundice, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Laboratory tests demonstrated autoimmune hemolytic anemia and elevated amino-transferases. Diffuse giant cell transformation and distorted architecture was seen in liver biopsy. One patient had a cytomegalovirus infection. Early steroid therapy did not prevent fatal course with liver failure in one patient.

[Duodenal ulcer in children. Apropos of 28 cases]. / Ulcera duodenal en niños. A propósito de 28 casos.

We present 28 children, 4 to 14 year-old, with duodenal ulcer; there were 21 males and 7 females. In 16 cases, after stimulation with pentagastrin, basal pepsinogen I (PG1), basal gastrinemia and basal acid output (BAO) and maximal acid output (MAO) were measured. Compared to controls, the mean levels of PG1 and gastrin were significantly higher in the patients; 12 children (80%) had high levels of PG1 and the remaining 3 (20%) had normal levels. The blood group O was the most prevalent: 64% of the cases.