Serological Biomarkers and Diversion Colitis: Changes after Stimulation with Probiotics.

Diversion colitis is a non-specific inflammation of a defunctionalised segment of the colon after a temporary stoma has been performed. This inflammation is associated with an alteration of certain inflammatory serum markers. The aims of this study were, firstly, to evaluate the modification of inflammatory biomarkers after stimulation with probiotics prior to closure of the protective ileostomy. Secondly, to identify if a relationship could be established between the severity of diversion colitis and the alteration of inflammatory biomarkers in the blood. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study was conducted. Patients who underwent surgery for colorectal carcinoma with protective ileostomy between January 2017 and December 2018 were included, pending reconstructive surgery and with diversion colitis as diagnosis. The sample was randomly divided into a group stimulated with probiotics (SG) (n = 34) and a control group (CG) (n = 35). Histological and endoscopic changes were evaluated after stimulation, after restorative surgery and during the short-term follow-up after surgery, including the correlation with pro-inflammatory biomarkers in blood. As main findings, a significant decrease in C-reactive protein (CRP), Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR ratio), and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (LMR ratio) was observed in the SG versus the CG with a p < 0.001. A significant increase in transferrin values and in the platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was observed in the SG versus CG after stimulation with probiotics with a p < 0.001. A normalisation of CRP and transferrin levels was observed in the third month of follow-up after closure ileostomy, and NLR, LMR and PLR ratios were equal in both groups. Decreased modified Glasgow prognostic score was found in SG compared to CG after probiotic stimulation (p < 0.001). The endoscopic and histological severity of diversion colitis is associated with a greater alteration of blood inflammatory biomarkers. The stimulation with probiotics prior to reconstructive surgery promotes an early normalization of these parameters.

Hematochezia caused by eosinophilic proctocolitis in a newborn before oral feeding: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hematochezia is a frequent symptom in early infancy. However, it occurs very rarely within the immediate neonatal period, and its occurrence before any oral intake is particularly rare. Because of the "congenital" presentation of hematochezia in our patient, we initially considered our case to be a non-classical, potentially severe type of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis. This diagnosis needs to be confirmed by an abnormal oral challenge test once the hematochezia has disappeared. If such a challenge cannot demonstrate an allergic origin, then the etiology of the hematochezia could be a neonatal transient eosinophilic colitis. Only two similar cases have been described so far. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a black baby boy of African origin born at 36 weeks 5 days of gestational age who presented with massive hematochezia immediately after birth. A rectosigmoidoscopy revealed a severe inflammation associated with diffuse eosinophilic infiltration on biopsy. His clinical outcome was favorable after introduction of an amino acid formula diet. We initially considered our case to be a non-classical, potentially severe type of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis but reintroduction of standard formula milk at the age of 3 months was successful. So, our patient is the first newborn in Europe who fits the diagnosis of "neonatal transient eosinophilic colitis." CONCLUSIONS: We discuss the possible etiology of "congenital" eosinophilic inflammation of the distal colon and conclude that hematochezia in well-looking neonates, in the absence of negative challenge tests later on, is more likely to be a neonatal transient eosinophilic colitis than an allergic proctocolitis. This new entity could be more frequent than previously thought, changing our medical care strategies for this kind of neonatal symptom.

Non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergies in children.

Non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergic disorders (non-IgE-GI-FA) including food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), food protein-induced enteropathy (FPE), and food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) are relatively uncommon in infants and young children, but are likely under-diagnosed. Non-IgE-GI-FA have a favorable prognosis, with majority resolving by age 3-5 years. Diagnosis relies on the recognition of symptoms pattern in FPIAP and FPIES and biopsy in FPE. Further studies are needed for a better understanding of the pathomechanism, which will lead eventually to the development of diagnostic tests and treatments. Limited evidence supports the role of food allergens in subsets of constipation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and colic. The immunologic pathomechanism is not fully understood and empiric prolonged avoidance of food allergens should be limited to minimize nutrient deficiency and feeding disorders/food aversions in infants.

Gastrointestinal food allergies.

Gastrointestinal food allergies present during early childhood with a diverse range of symptoms. Cow's milk, soy and wheat are the three most common gastrointestinal food allergens. Several clinical syndromes have been described, including food protein-induced enteropathy, proctocolitis and enterocolitis. In contrast with immediate, IgE-mediated food allergies, the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms is delayed for at least 1-2 hours after ingestion in non-IgE-mediated allergic disorders. The pathophysiology of these non-IgE-mediated allergic disorders is poorly understood, and useful in vitro markers are lacking. The results of the skin prick test or measurement of the food-specific serum IgE level is generally negative, although low-positive results may occur. Diagnosis therefore relies on the recognition of a particular clinical phenotype as well as the demonstration of clear clinical improvement after food allergen elimination and the re-emergence of symptoms upon challenge. There is a significant clinical overlap between non-IgE-mediated food allergy and several common paediatric gastroenterological conditions, which may lead to diagnostic confusion. The treatment of gastrointestinal food allergies requires the strict elimination of offending food allergens until tolerance has developed. In breast-fed infants, a maternal elimination diet is often sufficient to control symptoms. In formula-fed infants, treatment usually involves the use an extensively hydrolysed or amino acid-based formula. Apart from the use of hypoallergenic formulae, the solid diets of these children also need to be kept free of specific food allergens, as clinically indicated. The nutritional progress of infants and young children should be carefully monitored, and they should undergo ongoing, regular food protein elimination reassessments by cautious food challenges to monitor for possible tolerance development.

Refractory proctocolitis in the exclusively breast-fed infants.

The arm of this review was to help general pediatricians and primary care physicians in diagnosing and managing cow's milk protein allergy in exclusively breast-fed infants. Allergic proctocolitis is a cause of rectal bleeding in exclusively breast-fed infants aged from 1 to 6 months.It is due to cow's milk protein transferred via breast milk. Diagnosis is based on clinical features and recovery after dietetic therapy. Rectal bleeding generally resolves within 72-96 hours of cow's milk protein maternal avoidance. Most infants tolerate cow's milk by their first birthday.

ABM Clinical Protocol #24: Allergic Proctocolitis in the Exclusively Breastfed Infant.

A central goal of The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is the development of clinical protocols for managing common medical problems that may impact breastfeeding success. These protocols serve only as guidelines for the care of breastfeeding mothers and infants and do not delineate an exclusive course of treatment or serve as standards of medical care. Variations in treatment may be appropriate according to the needs of an individual patient. These guidelines are not intended to be all-inclusive, but to provide a basic framework for physician education regarding breastfeeding.

Allergic proctocolitis refractory to maternal hypoallergenic diet in exclusively breast-fed infants: a clinical observation.

BACKGROUND: Allergic proctocolitis (APC) in exclusively breast-fed infants is caused by food proteins, deriving from maternal diet, transferred through lactation. In most cases a maternal cow milk-free diet leads to a prompt resolution of rectal bleeding, while in some patients a multiple food allergy can occur. The aim of this study was to assess whether the atopy patch test (APT) could be helpful to identify this subgroup of patients requiring to discontinue breast-feeding due to polisensitization. Additionally, we assessed the efficacy of an amino acid-based formula (AAF) when multiple food allergy is suspected. amino acid-based formula METHODS: We have prospectively enrolled 14 exclusively breast-fed infants with APC refractory to maternal allergen avoidance. The diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopy with biopsies. Skin prick tests and serum specific IgE for common foods, together with APTs for common foods plus breast milk, were performed. After a 1 month therapy of an AAF all patients underwent a follow-up rectosigmoidoscopy. RESULTS: Prick tests and serum specific IgE were negative. APTs were positive in 100% infants, with a multiple positivity in 50%. Sensitization was found for breast milk in 100%, cow's milk (50%), soy (28%), egg (21%), rice (14%), wheat (7%). Follow-up rectosigmoidoscopy confirmed the remission of APC in all infants. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that APT might become a useful tool to identify subgroups of infants with multiple gastrointestinal food allergy involving a delayed immunogenic mechanism, with the aim to avoid unnecessary maternal dietary restrictions before discontinuing breast-feeding.

Doenças inflamatórias intestinais: o que há de novo em terapianutricional? / Intestinal inflammatory diseases: what is new in nutritional therapy? / Enfermedades inflamatorias intestinal: ¿qué hay de nuevo en terapia nutricional?

A doença inflamatória intestinal (DII) é uma denominação genérica que engloba várias entidades patológicas, sendo as mais comuns: retocolite ulcerativa inespecífica (RCUI) e doença de Crohn (DC), que acometem o trato gastrointestinal e são comumente associadas à desnutrição protéico-energética (DPE). As alterações nutricionais dependem da extensão e da gravidade com que se manifestam as moléstias, agravando o prognóstico tanto do paciente em tratamento clínico, quanto daqueles submetidos a cirurgias, deteriorando ainda a competência imune. A terapia nutricional tem se mostrado como recurso terapêutico auxiliar extremamente útil, atuando diretamente sobre o estado nutricional, mantendo-o e/ou recuperando-o, com conseqüente benefício na evolução e tratamento das DII. As indicações e as características básicas das dietas são motivos de discussão. O suporte nutricional oral, enteral e parenteral tem se mostrado bastante eficaz na indução e na manutenção da remissão da DII, pelo fornecimento de nutrientescom funções fisiológicas específicas. Estes nutrientes atuam modulando a resposta imunoinflamatória e mantendo a integridade da mucosa intestinal, melhorando o estado clínico e, conseqüentemente, o estado nutricional destes pacientes. O conhecimento do papel benéfico da flora intestinal estimulou as investigações com probióticos, sugerindo estratégias futuras detratamento.

Intestinal inflammatory disease (IID) is a generic denomination for various pathologic entities.The most common are non-specific ulcerative rectocolitis and Crohn’s disease (CD), which affect the gastrointestinal tract and are commonly associated with protein-energetic malnutrition(PEM). The nutritional alterations depend on the extent and gravity of the symptoms, aggravate the prognosis of patients receiving clinical treatment as well as surgical patients and worse nimmune competence. Nutritional therapy has revealed to be an extremely useful therapeutic resource, which exerts a direct influence, maintaining or recovering the nutritional state, andconsequently benefits the evolution and treatment of IID. The indications and basic characteristics of diets are a reason for discussion. Oral, enteral and parenteral nutritional support has revealed to be quite efficient to induce and maintain the remission of IID, as it supplies nutrients with specific physiological functions. The effect of these nutrients modulates the immuno-inflammatory response and maintains the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, improving these patients’ clinical and,consequently, nutritional condition. Knowledge about the beneficial role of the intestinal flora stimulated research on probiotics which has resulted in future treatment strategy suggestions.

La enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) es una denominación genérica que abarca varias entidades patológicas. Las más comunes son la rectocolitis ulcerativa inespecífica (RCUI) y enfermedad de Crohn (EC), que atacan al tracto gastrointestinal y son comúnmente asociadas a la desnutrición proteico-energética (DPE). Las alteraciones nutricionales dependen de la extensión y gravedad con que se muestran las molestias, agudizando el pronóstico tanto del paciente en tratamiento clínico como en aquellossometidos a cirugías y empeorando además la competencia inmune. La terapia nutricional se ha revelado como recurso terapéutico auxiliar extremamente útil, actuando directamente sobre el estado nutricional, manteniéndolo y/o recuperándolo, acarreando beneficios a la evolución y al tratamiento de las EII. Las indicaciones y características básicas de las dietas son motivo de discusión. El soporte nutricional oral, enteral y parenteral se hamostrado bastante eficaz en la inducción y el mantenimiento de la remisión de la EII,debido al suministro de nutrientes con funciones fisiológicas específicas. Estos nutrientes actúan modulando la respuesta inmunoinflamatoria y manteniendo la integridad de la mucosa intestinal, mejorando el estado clínico y, consecuentemente, el estado nutricional de estos pacientes. El conocimiento del papel benéfico de la flora intestinal estimuló las investigaciones con probióticos sugiriendo estrategias futuras de tratamiento.

Distal proctocolitis and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs): the mucosal effect in situ.

It has been postulated that patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have altered reactivity of gut-associated lymphoid tissue. In such cases there is intense infiltration of the mucosa with immune competent cells and associated tissue damage. We have shown previously that the dietary supplementation with the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) results in significant systemic immune suppression. The aim of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the in situ effect of n-3 PUFAs on distal proctocolitis. Each patient received either fish oil extract (EPA 3.2 g, DHA 2.4 g) (n = 9) or sunflower oil (n = 9) daily in a double blind manner for six months. Monthly assessment included: (1) disease activity using clinical, sigmoidoscopic, and histological scores and (2) immunohistochemical analysis (immunoglobulins, CD profiles) of rectal biopsy specimens (before and after six months supplementation) using monoclonal antibodies and quantitative computer-assisted video image analysis. Prior to receiving supplementation, patients with proctocolitis (n = 18) showed significantly higher numbers of cells expressing CD3 (pan T cells) and HLA-DR and IgM containing cells compared with non-colitic controls (n = 8). Six months supplementation with n-3 PUFAs resulted in significant reduction in the number of cells expressing CD3 and HLA and the percentage of cells containing IgM. There was no significant change in the CD20 nor the percentage of IgG or IgA containing cells in either group of patients with procto-colitis. In patients receiving n-3 PUFA supplementation, there was improvement in the disease activity and histological scores, compared with pretreatment evaluation. This study has demonstrated both evidence of suppression of in situ immune reactivity and concurrent reduction in disease activity in patients with proctocolitis receiving n-3 PUFA supplementation. This may have important implication for therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis.