Chronic granulomatous disease of childhood presenting as gastric outlet obstruction

Understanding inborn errors of immunity: A lens into the pathophysiology of monogenic inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease-undefined (IBD-U). IBD are understood to be multifactorial, involving genetic, immune, microbial and environmental factors. Advances in next generation sequencing facilitated the growing identification of over 80 monogenic causes of IBD, many of which overlap with Inborn errors of immunity (IEI); Approximately a third of currently identified IEI result in gastrointestinal manifestations, many of which are inflammatory in nature, such as IBD. Indeed, the gastrointestinal tract represents an opportune system to study IEI as it consists of the largest mass of lymphoid tissue in the body and employs a thin layer of intestinal epithelial cells as the critical barrier between the intestinal lumen and the host. In this mini-review, a selection of pertinent IEI resulting in monogenic IBD is described involving disorders in the intestinal epithelial barrier, phagocytosis, T and B cell defects, as well as those impairing central and peripheral tolerance. The contribution of disrupted gut-microbiota-host interactions in disturbing intestinal homeostasis among patients with intestinal disease is also discussed. The molecular mechanisms driving pathogenesis are reviewed along with the personalized therapeutic interventions and investigational avenues this growing knowledge has enabled.

Patterns of Gastric Injury: Beyond Helicobacter Pylori

Gastric biopsies are routinely obtained from patients with symptoms related to the gastrointestinal tract and, as a result, a variety of histologic changes are observed in patients with or without endoscopic evidence of mucosal injury. Although Helicobacter pylori-related gastritis is still common, several other patterns of mucosal injury are increasingly encountered. These patterns of injury are classified based on the nature and distribution of inflammation, location of epithelial cell injury, presence of crystal or pigment deposition, and/or other unique features. This article discusses each of these patterns and provides a differential diagnosis for each.

Very Early-Onset Inflammatory Manifestations of X-Linked Chronic Granulomatous Disease

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare primary immune deficiency caused by mutations in genes coding for components of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, characterized by severe and recurrent bacterial and fungal infections, together with inflammatory complications. Dysregulation of inflammatory responses are often present in this disease and may lead to granulomatous lesions, most often affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) and urinary tracts. Treatment of inflammatory complications usually includes corticosteroids, whereas antimicrobial prophylaxis is used for infection prevention. Curative treatment of both infectious susceptibility and inflammatory disease can be achieved by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We report herein three patients with the same mutation of the CYBB gene who presented with very early-onset and severe GI manifestations of X-linked CGD. The most severely affected patient had evidence of antenatal inflammatory involvement of the GI and urinary tracts. Extreme hyperleukocytosis with eosinophilia and high inflammatory markers were observed in all three patients. A Mycobacterium avium lung infection and an unidentified fungal lung infection occurred in two patients both during their first year of life, which is indicative of the severity of the disease. All three patients underwent bone marrow transplantation and recovered fully from their initial symptoms. To our knowledge, these are the first reports of patients with such an early-onset and severe inflammatory manifestations of CGD.

Managing Inflammatory Manifestations in Patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency caused by lack of phagocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, which results in inflammatory dysregulation and increased susceptibility to infections. Patients with CGD may develop severe obstructive disorders of the digestive tract as a result of their dysregulated inflammatory response. Despite a growing focus on inflammatory manifestations in CGD, the literature data on obstructive complications are far less extensive than those on infectious complications. Diagnosis and management of patients with concomitant predispositions to infections and hyperinflammation are particularly challenging. Although the inflammatory and granulomatous manifestations of CGD usually respond rapidly to steroid treatment, second-line therapies (immunosuppressants and biologics) may be required in refractory cases. Indeed, immunosuppressants (such as anti-tumor necrosis factor agents, thalidomide, and anakinra) have shown some efficacy, but the value of this approach is controversial, given the questionable risk-to-benefit ratio and the small numbers of patients treated to date. Significant progress in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (the only curative treatment for CGD) has been made through better supportive care and implementation of improved, reduced-intensity conditioning regimens. Gene therapy may eventually be an option for patients lacking a suitable donor; clinical trials with new, safer vectors are ongoing at a few centers.

Chronic granulomatous disease: a review of the infectious and inflammatory complications

Chronic Granulomatous Disease is the most commonly encountered immunodeficiency involving the phagocyte, and is characterized by repeated infections with bacterial and fungal pathogens, as well as the formation of granulomas in tissue. The disease is the result of a disorder of the NADPH oxidase system, culminating in an inability of the phagocyte to generate superoxide, leading to the defective killing of pathogenic organisms. This can lead to infections with Staphylococcus aureus, Psedomonas species, Nocardia species, and fungi (such as Aspergillus species and Candida albicans). Involvement of vital or large organs can contribute to morbidity and/or mortality in the affected patients. Major advances have occurred in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, with the potential for gene therapy or stem cell transplantation looming on the horizon.

Idiopathic non-hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in an infant successfully treated via endoscopic approach

Non-peptic, non-hypertrophic pyloric stenosis has rarely been reported in pediatric literature. Endoscopic pyloric balloon dilation has been shown to be a safe procedure in treating gastric outlet obstruction in older children and adults. Partial gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) was diagnosed in an infant by history and confirmed by an upper gastrointestinal series (UGI). Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography scan excluded idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, abdominal tumors, gastrointestinal and hepato-biliary-pancreatic anomalies. Endoscopic findings showed a pinhole-sized pylorus and did not indicate peptic ulcer disease, Helicobacter pylori infection, antral web, or evidence of allergic and inflammatory bowel diseases. Three sessions of a step-wise endoscopic pyloric balloon dilation were conducted under general anesthesia and a fluoroscopy at two week intervals using catheter balloons (Boston Scientific Microvasive^®, MA, USA) of increasing diameters. Repeat UGI after the first session revealed normal gastrointestinal transit and no intestinal obstruction. The patient tolerated solid food without any gastrointestinal symptoms since the first session. The endoscope was able to be passed through the pylorus after the last session. Although the etiology of GOO in this infant is unclear (proposed mechanisms are herein discussed), endoscopic pyloric balloon dilation was a safe procedure for treating this young infant with non-peptic, non-hypertrophic pyloric stenosis and should be considered as an initial approach before pyloroplasty in such presentations.

Pathology of non-Helicobacter pylori gastritis: extending the histopathologic horizons

The development of modern endoscopic techniques, easier and greater access to healthcare, and interest in Helicobacter pylori infection and its implications have all led to a significant increase in upper endoscopies. In turn, gastroenterologists and pathologists have been recognizing an ever-increasing number of patterns of mucosal injury. Consequently, there is now an interest in a wider aspect of non-neoplastic gastric pathology, namely, non-HP (H. pylori) gastritis. In this review, we present major clinico-pathological entities, based on either the salient morphological features or the underlying etiologies.

Efficiency of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of granulomatous complications in chronic granulomatous disease

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) represents a group of genetic disorders in which impaired intracellular microbial killing by phagocytes leads to recurrent bacterial and fungal infections and granuloma formation. Granulomatous lesions involved gastrointestinal tract in more than one-third of all CGD patients, with various clinical presentations, and may be life threatening. Corticosteroid therapy may relieve symptoms but increase the risk of infections in such immunocompromised patients. We report here the first successful management, with hydroxychloroquine therapy alone, of a 29-year-old CGD man with severe gastric granulomatous involvement. Hydroxychloroquine appears to be a safe and effective alternative treatment of granulomas in CGD patients.

Pathology of non-infective gastritis

The discovery of Helicobacter pylori and its intimate role in the development of the most common form of chronic gastritis has elicited a much-needed interest in non-neoplastic gastric pathology. This has been paralleled by an increase in upper endoscopic examinations, which allow recognition of novel patterns and distribution of mucosal injury. Numerous attempts at classification have been made, most based on the acuteness or chronicity of gastric mucosal injury. In this review, we will not offer a new classification but present a detailed description of the major clinicopathological entities, based either on the salient morphological features or the underlying aetiologies, i.e. iatrogenic, autoimmune, vascular or idiopathic.

Infantile myofibromatosis: a most unusual cause of gastric outlet obstruction

Non-bilious vomiting in the newborn is common. Etiologies include both surgical and medical conditions. Gastroesophageal reflux, soy or milk protein allergy, and prostaglandin-induced foveolar hyperplasia are among the medical causes. Surgical entities include gastric antral webs, pre-ampullary duodenal and pyloric atresia, and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. We report the unique case of an 8-day-old girl who presented with gastric outlet obstruction secondary to infantile myofibromatosis.

Recognition of Crohn disease on incidental gastric biopsy in childhood

The role of gastric biopsy in the diagnosis of Crohn disease (CD) in the pediatric population has not been well described. We assessed the use of gastric biopsies in the diagnosis of CD using specific histopathologic parameters: granulomata, focal gland injury with neutrophils (glandulitis or glandular abscesses), and/or focal concomitant eosinophilic infiltrates. Multiple (438) consecutive pediatric biopsies with inflammation spanning a 5-year period were identified from archival material in patients ages 2 months to 16 years. A total of 56 CD cases were confirmed using colon biopsies and clinical and radiologic data as the gold standards of diagnosis. Review of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides and Diff-Quik stained slides (negative for Helicobacter pylori) isolated 53 cases which suggested CD on gastric biopsy: 20 cases with granulomata, 14 cases with focal glandulitis and glandular abscesses, and 19 cases of focal glandulitis/glandular abscesses with eosinophilic infiltrates. Seventy-seven percent (43/56) were correctly identified as patients with CD. Twenty-three percent (13/56) of CD cases were not identified primarily because of concurrent H. pylori infection identified on Diff-Quik stain with a superimposed nonspecific diffuse gastritis. The use of Diff-Quik stain to identify H. pylori cases after all other factors are considered was significant (P = 0.0145); a negative stain, combined with the identified histopathologic features indicative of CD, significantly increased the accuracy of CD diagnosis. CD was mimicked by other gastric granulomatous diseases (actinomyces, 1 case; chronic granulomatous disease of childhood, 1 case). Gastric biopsy can be used to identify or support the diagnosis of CD in children in the appropriate clinicopathologic setting.

Genetic, biochemical, and clinical features of chronic granulomatous disease

The reduced nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase complex allows phagocytes to rapidly convert O2 to superoxide anion which then generates other antimicrobial reactive oxygen intermediates, such as H2O2, hydroxyl anion, and peroxynitrite anion. Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) results from a defect in any of the 4 subunits of the NADPH oxidase and is characterized by recurrent life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections and abnormal tissue granuloma formation. Activation of the NADPH oxidase requires translocation of the cytosolic subunits p47phox (phagocyte oxidase), p67phox, and the low molecular weight GT-Pase Rac, to the membrane-bound flavocytochrome, a heterodimer composed of the heavy chain gp91phox and the light chain p22phox. This complex transfers electrons from NADPH on the cytoplasmic side to O2 on the vacuolar or extracellular side, thereby generating superoxide anion. Activation of the NADPH oxidase requires complex rearrangements between the protein subunits, which are in part mediated by noncovalent binding between src-homology 3 domains (SH3 domains) and proline-rich motifs. Outpatient management of CGD patients relies on the use of prophylactic antibiotics and interferon-gamma. When infection is suspected, aggressive effort to obtain culture material is required. Treatment of infections involves prolonged use of systemic antibiotics, surgical debridement when feasible, and, in severe infections, use of granulocyte transfusions. Mouse knockout models of CGD have been created in which to examine aspects of pathophysiology and therapy. Gene therapy and bone marrow transplantation trials in CGD patients are ongoing and show great promise.

Chronic granulomatous disease. Report on a national registry of 368 patients

A registry of United States residents with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) was established in 1993 in order to estimate the minimum incidence of this uncommon primary immunodeficiency disease and characterize its epidemiologic and clinical features. To date, 368 patients have been registered; 259 have the X-linked recessive form of CGD, 81 have 1 of the autosomal recessive forms, and in 28 the mode of inheritance is unknown. The minimum estimate of birth rate is between 1/200,000 and 1/250,000 live births for the period 1980-1989. Pneumonia was the most prevalent infection (79% of patients; Aspergillus most prevalent cause), followed by suppurative adenitis (53% of patients; Staphylococcus most prevalent cause), subcutaneous abscess (42% of patients; Staphylococcus most prevalent cause), liver abscess (27% of patients; Staphylococcus most prevalent cause), osteomyelitis (25% of patients; Serratia most prevalent cause), and sepsis (18% of patients; Salmonella most prevalent cause). Fifteen percent of patients had gastric outlet obstruction, 10% urinary tract obstruction, and 17% colitis/enteritis. Ten percent of X-linked recessive kindreds and 3% of autosomal recessive kindreds had family members with lupus. Eighteen percent of patients either were deceased when registered or died after being registered. The most common causes of death were pneumonia and/or sepsis due to Aspergillus (23 patients) or Burkholderia cepacia (12 patients). Patients with the X-linked recessive form of the disease appear to have a more serious clinical phenotype than patients with the autosomal recessive forms of the disease, based on the fact that they are diagnosed significantly earlier (mean, 3.01 years of age versus 7.81 years of age, respectively), have a significantly higher prevalence of perirectal abscess (17% versus 7%), suppurative adenitis (59% versus 32%), bacteremia/fungemia (21% versus 10%), gastric obstruction (19% versus 5%), and urinary tract obstruction (11% versus 3%), and a higher mortality (21.2% versus 8.6%).

Host defense molecule polymorphisms influence the risk for immune-mediated complications in chronic granulomatous disease

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited disorder of phagocyte function in which defective superoxide production results in deficient microbicidal activity. CGD patients suffer from recurrent, life-threatening infections, and nearly half develop chronic gastrointestinal (GI) complications (colitis, gastric outlet obstruction, or perirectal abscess) and/or autoimmune/rheumatologic disorders (AIDs). To identify genetic modifiers of disease severity, we studied a cohort of 129 CGD patients, in whom seven candidate genes (myeloperoxidase [MPO], mannose binding lectin [MBL], Fcgamma receptors IIa, IIIa, IIIb, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 receptor antagonist), each containing a physiologically relevant polymorphism predicted to influence the host inflammatory response, were selected for analysis. Genotypes of MPO (P = 0.003) and FcgammaRIIIb (P = 0.007) were strongly associated with an increased risk for GI complications, while an FcgammaRIIa (P = 0.05) genotype was suggestive for an association. Patients with all three associated genotypes had the highest risk for GI complications (P < 0.0001). The risk of AIDs was strongly associated with variant alleles of MBL (P = 0.01) and weakly associated with an FcgammaRIIa genotype (P = 0.04). Patients with variant forms of both MBL and FcgammaRIIa had the highest risk of developing an AID (P = 0.003).

Gastrointestinal complications of chronic granulomatous disease: case report and literature review

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), an inherited disorder of phagocytic leukocyte function, is characterized by recurrent infections with catalase-positive organisms. Gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement, present in the majority of affected individuals, may be present initially and recurrently, mimics other entities such as inflammatory bowel disease, and causes substantive morbidity and mortality. Disorders of motility, ulceration, obstruction, and infection (e.g., abscesses) occur from the mouth to the anus and stereotypically manifest with vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and fever. Careful physical examination, in concert with appropriate diagnostic studies, is necessary to delineate intraabdominal pathologic processes. Abdominal radiographs, ultrasonography, computerized tomography, and endoscopy are useful ancillary diagnostic procedures. Drainage of accessible abscesses, antimicrobial therapy based on organisms cultured from blood and tissue, and interferon gamma may lead to suppression or eradication of infections and resolution of symptoms. Corticosteroids are useful for gastric outlet obstruction and sulfasalazine and cyclosporine for large bowel disease. Gallbladder dysfunction may be ameliorated, as in our patient, with administration of cholestyramine.

Outpatient management with oral corticosteroid therapy for obstructive conditions in chronic granulomatous disease

We report the outpatient management of three patients with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease, two of whom had episodes of gastric outlet obstruction and another, urinary bladder obstruction. These obstructive conditions were successfully treated with 2-week courses of orally administered corticosteroids with or without the addition of orally administered clindamycin. There were no infectious or other adverse reactions.

Chronic granulomatous disease of childhood: gastric manifestation and response to salazosulfapyridine therapy

The case history of a 10-year-old boy with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and gastric obstruction is presented. First abdominal symptoms occurred at 4 years of age when antral narrowing was detected. Due to unresponsiveness to antibiotic and steroid treatment, salazosulfapyridine therapy was initiated. Objective remission was observed within 3 months and salazosulfapyridine was withdrawn after a further 6 months of therapy. At 6 years of age clinical and radiological recurrence of gastric obstruction was observed. Salazosulfapyridine was reinstated and continued as maintenance therapy. The child has been well for more than 4 years. Salazosulfapyridine therapy can be recommended as safe conservative treatment of gastric obstruction in CGD.

Corticosteroids in treatment of obstructive lesions of chronic granulomatous disease

Two patients with chronic granulomatous disease had obstructive lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, esophagus, and genitourinary tract, which were successfully treated with corticosteroids. These obstructive lesions, caused by local granuloma formation, have been reported in 18 other patients with chronic granulomatous disease, none of whom received steroids. Our first patient, a 3-year-old boy, had emesis and weight loss associated with antral narrowing and delayed gastric emptying at age 2 years. Antibiotic therapy was ineffective, but intravenous and oral corticosteroid therapy for 10 weeks resulted in clinical cure. One year later, dysuria associated with bladder neck obstruction was also treated successfully with corticosteroids. The second child, a 10-year-old boy, had dysphagia caused by distal esophageal stenosis. Corticosteroid therapy (with concomitant antibiotics) on two occasions reversed this obstruction. Granulomatous cystitis with ureteropelvic obstruction then developed, which also responded to treatment with corticosteroids and antibiotics. Despite the risk of increased susceptibility to infection, corticosteroid therapy is justified in preventing life-threatening obstruction of vital organs.