L-arginine-induced esophagitis, report of six cases.

Background: Drug-induced esophagitis is an uncommon diagnosis in the pediatric population. The following is a report of six adolescents with L-arginine-induced esophagitis. Case reports: All patients were under treatment with L-arginine for short stature. After using the prescribed medication for 1-3 months, all cases started with severe retrosternal pain, odynophagia, and dysphagia. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopies showed ulcers located in the mid esophageal mucosa. Conclusions: In the presence of acute severe odynophagia, dysphagia, and retrosternal pain, drug-induced esophagitis should be considered as a possible diagnosis. Treatment includes liquid diet, pain control, sucralfate, omeprazole, and interruption of L-arginine. In addition, the physician should explain preventive measures focused on patient and family education on the drug side effects and precise instructions on how to take medications, as well as a careful balance of risk and benefits of any medication. At present, there are no clinical trials that support the use of L-arginine in treatment of short stature.

Introducción: La esofagitis inducida por medicamentos es un diagnóstico poco frecuente en pacientes pediátricos. A continuación, se describe una serie de seis casos de pacientes menores de 15 años con esofagitis inducida por L-arginina. Casos clínicos: Los seis casos se encontraban en tratamiento con L-arginina por talla baja e iniciaron con dolor retroesternal, odinofagia y disfagia de rápida instalación. Cuatro de ellos acudieron al servicio de urgencias por la intensidad de los síntomas. Los hallazgos en la endoscopia del tubo digestivo alto fueron úlceras en la mucosa del esófago a la altura del tercio medio, zona de estrechez natural por la compresión del bronquio izquierdo. Conclusiones: En presencia de odinofagia, disfagia, dolor retroesternal y el antecedente de la ingesta de L-arginina, la esofagitis inducida por fármacos debe considerarse como una posibilidad diagnóstica. El tratamiento está basado en el manejo del dolor, sucralfato, omeprazol, así como la suspensión del medicamento y medidas preventivas centradas en la educación del paciente y los familiares sobre los riesgos y beneficios de un medicamento y la forma correcta de administrarlo.

L-arginine-induced esophagitis, report of six cases / Reporte de seis casos de esofagitis inducida por L-arginina

Abstract Background: Drug-induced esophagitis is an uncommon diagnosis in the pediatric population. The following is a report of six adolescents with L-arginine-induced esophagitis. Case reports: All patients were under treatment with L-arginine for short stature. After using the prescribed medication for 1-3 months, all cases started with severe retrosternal pain, odynophagia, and dysphagia. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopies showed ulcers located in the mid esophageal mucosa. Conclusions: In the presence of acute severe odynophagia, dysphagia, and retrosternal pain, drug-induced esophagitis should be considered as a possible diagnosis. Treatment includes liquid diet, pain control, sucralfate, omeprazole, and interruption of L-arginine. In addition, the physician should explain preventive measures focused on patient and family education on the drug side effects and precise instructions on how to take medications, as well as a careful balance of risk and benefits of any medication. At present, there are no clinical trials that support the use of L-arginine in treatment of short stature.

Resumen Introducción: La esofagitis inducida por medicamentos es un diagnóstico poco frecuente en pacientes pediátricos. A continuación, se describe una serie de seis casos de pacientes menores de 15 años con esofagitis inducida por L-arginina. Casos clínicos: Los seis casos se encontraban en tratamiento con L-arginina por talla baja e iniciaron con dolor retroesternal, odinofagia y disfagia de rápida instalación. Cuatro de ellos acudieron al servicio de urgencias por la intensidad de los síntomas. Los hallazgos en la endoscopia del tubo digestivo alto fueron úlceras en la mucosa del esófago a la altura del tercio medio, zona de estrechez natural por la compresión del bronquio izquierdo. Conclusiones: En presencia de odinofagia, disfagia, dolor retroesternal y el antecedente de la ingesta de L-arginina, la esofagitis inducida por fármacos debe considerarse como una posibilidad diagnóstica. El tratamiento está basado en el manejo del dolor, sucralfato, omeprazol, así como la suspensión del medicamento y medidas preventivas centradas en la educación del paciente y los familiares sobre los riesgos y beneficios de un medicamento y la forma correcta de administrarlo.

[Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome. A case report]. / Síndrome de enterocolitis inducida por proteínas de los alimentos. Reporte de caso.

BACKGROUND: Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome or FPIES is a rare, not-IgE-mediated food allergy. The predominant feature is vomit from one to four hours after consuming the causal food. CLINICAL CASE: An 8-month-old boy, with no family history of allergy, with a personal pathological history of allergy to cow's milk protein. At 7 months of age, he had acute gastroenteritis with mixed shock and, at 8 months of age, he had acute gastroenteritis and moderate dehydration. In both episodes, he had eaten rice before the symptoms started. When infectious etiology and other causes of vomit and dehydration were ruled out, the diagnosis of FPIES, which is secondary to rice protein, was made and confirmed with a patch test. CONCLUSION: FPIES should be considered in the differential diagnosis of recurrent gastroenteritis, especially in severe cases without an identified infectious cause.

Antecedentes: El síndrome de enterocolitis inducida por proteínas de los alimentos es una alergia alimentaria poco frecuente no mediada por IgE. El síntoma principal son los vómitos una a cuatro horas después del consumo del alimento causal. Caso clínico: Varón de ocho meses, sin antecedentes heredofamiliares de alergia, con antecedentes personales patológicos de alergia a la proteína de la leche de vaca. A los siete meses había presentado gastroenteritis aguda con choque mixto y a los ocho meses, gastroenteritis aguda y deshidratación moderada; en ambos eventos hubo consumo de arroz previo al inicio de los síntomas. Al descartar etiología infecciosa y otras causas de vómitos y deshidratación, se formuló el diagnóstico de síndrome de enterocolitis inducida por proteínas de los alimentos, secundario a proteína de arroz, que se corroboró con prueba de parche. Conclusión: El síndrome de enterocolitis inducida por proteínas de los alimentos debe ser considerado en el diagnóstico diferencial de gastroenteritis recurrente, principalmente en cuadros graves sin causa infecciosa identificada.

[Juvenile polyposis in Mexican children]. / Poliposis juvenil en niños mexicanos.

BACKGROUND: Juvenile polyposis (JP) is a frequent cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. It is present in 3-4% of the population < 21 years of age and represents 90% of all polyps in childhood. The most common complaints are hematoquezia, abdominal pain, and polyp prolapse. METHODS: A descriptive, observational, transversal study of 225 children with histopatologic diagnosis of JP seen at the Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition of the Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, between January 1985 and December 2000. Variables studied included age of presentation, gender, frequency, clinical manifestations, type, location, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods. RESULTS: Frequency was one polyp per 162 patient seen during the same period (0.61%) and age 2 to 8 years (82%), a total of 235 patients, 120 females and 273 total polyps were found rectum the most common site 82% (224 polyps) followed by sigmoid. Mean distance from anal margin was 6.5 cm. Of all polyps, 82.9% were in the first 10 cm of anal margin. Of all patients, 92.3% had a single polyp and 7.7% had multiple polyps. A baritated study was made in 39 patients (16.6%) with diagnostic efficacy of 74%. No additional baritated studies were needed because of high diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of the rectosigmoidoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Rectosigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy remain as the diagnosis and therapeutic method in children with JP.