Clinicopathologic Features, Genetics, Treatment, and Long-Term Outcomes in Japanese Children and Young Adults with Benign Recurrent Intrahepatic Cholestasis: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Few reports of benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis (BRIC) have focused on East Asian patients. We describe the clinicopathologic features, genetics, treatment, and outcomes in Japanese BRIC patients. METHODS: We recruited patients with BRIC type 1 (BRIC-1) or 2 (BRIC-2) treated at four pediatric centers and one adult center between April 2007 and March 2022. Demographics, clinical course, laboratory results, molecular genetic findings concerning ATP8B1 and ABCB11 genes, histopathology, and treatment response were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: Seven Japanese patients with BRIC were enrolled (four male, three female; four BRIC-1 and three BRIC-2). The median age at onset for BRIC-1 was 12 years; for BRIC-2, it was 1 month. Intermittent cholestatic attacks numbered from one to eight during the 11 years of median follow-up. Six patients received a mainstream education; only one patient attended special education. None developed cirrhosis. Three with BRIC-1 showed compound heterozygosity for a variant ATP8B1 gene, while one was heterozygous; two BRIC-2 patients showed compound heterozygosity in ABCB11 and one was heterozygous. Liver biopsy specimens obtained during cholestatic attacks showed fibrosis varying from none to moderate; inflammation was absent or mild. Rifampicin administered to three patients for cholestatic attacks was effective in all, as was cholestyramine in two of three. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first East Asian multicenter study of BRIC patients. Onset age and number of cholestatic attacks varied. Rifampicin and cholestyramine were effective against attacks. No patient developed cirrhosis; most had normal growth and development. The long-term outcomes were satisfactory.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infection Complicated with Bacteremia in a 10-Month-Old Boy.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Y. pseudotuberculosis) infection complicated with bacteremia rarely occurs. Y. pseudotuberculosis infection is also known to produce various symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease (KD) due to the production of Y. pseudotuberculosis-derived mitogen (YPM), an exotoxin with superantigen activity. Moreover, it causes terminal ileitis and is responsible for appendix swelling. Here, we report a case of Y. pseudotuberculosis infection in a 10-month-old boy who was brought to our hospital due to fever, watery stool, and poor vitality. Abdominal echocardiography revealed wall thickening of the entire colon and appendix swelling; therefore, he was admitted and treated with antibiotics for bacterial enteritis or appendicitis. After the antibiotic administration, facial skin rashes and hand and foot edema developed. However, he had 5/6 major symptoms of KD and was diagnosed with Y. pseudotuberculosis infection because of its presence in the blood and stool cultures. Thereafter, antibacterial therapy improved his symptoms and increased the inflammatory response. After his hospital discharge, the skin on his fingers showed desquamation like that of KD. Y. pseudotuberculosis infection should be considered as a differential disease in KD, terminal ileitis, and appendicitis. Furthermore, its infection route and culture methods should also be carefully considered.