Endoscopic and histological gastric lesions in children with celiac disease: mucosal involvement is not only confined to the duodenum

Collagenous and lymphocytic gastritis in pediatric patients. A single-center experience observing an increase in diagnosis in recent years

BACKGROUND

Collagenous gastritis (CG) and Lymphocytic gastritis (LG) are rare types of gastritis. Thick sub-epithelial collagen bands characterize CG. Numerous lymphocytes in the surface and foveolar epithelium characterize LG. We aimed to characterize these disorders in our pediatric unit.

METHODS

A retrospective review of children diagnosed with CG and LG between 2000 and 2023. Baseline data; demographics, anthropometric, symptoms, laboratory data, macroscopic and histopathologic findings. Follow-up data; treatment, improvement of symptoms and laboratory parameters.

RESULTS

We identified 31 children, 11 (35.5%) had CG and 20 (64.5%) LG, mean age 9.07 ± 5.04 years. Seven (22.6%) children were diagnosed between 2000 and 2016 and 24 (77.4%) between 2017 and 2023. Baseline characteristics included gastrointestinal symptoms in 16 (51.6%), iron deficiency anemia in 22 (71%), with a mean hemoglobin level of 8.8 ± 2.5 gr/dl. Gastric endoscopic findings were normal in 12 (38.7%), demonstrated nodularity in 14 (45.2%) and an inflamed mucosa without nodularity in 5 (16.1%). Helicobacter pylori was positive in 3 (9.7%) children, celiac disease was diagnosed in 7 (22.6%). Treatment included iron supplementation in 24 (77.4%), proton pump inhibitors in 16 (51.6%) and a gluten free diet in seven. Mean follow-up was 2.9 ± 2.2 years. Hemoglobin levels normalized in 21/22; however, 9 (29%) patients required repeat iron supplementation. Eight patients had a repeat endoscopy (6 CG and 2 LG) without changes in their gastric histopathology.

CONCLUSIONS

CG and LG are not rare in pediatric patients. Physicians and pathologist should be aware of these types of gastritis.

Helicobacter pylori-negative Chronic Gastritis in Children: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review the current evidence on Helicobacter pylori-negative chronic gastritis including natural history, available therapies and outcomes.

METHODS

Articles providing data on the prevalence, treatment or outcomes of Helicobacter pylori-negative gastritis were identified through a systematic search in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. All original research articles from human studies until October 31, 2021, were included.

RESULTS

A total of 54 studies were included consisted of eosinophilic gastritis (n = 9), autoimmune gastritis (n = 11), collagenous gastritis (n = 16), focally enhanced gastritis (n = 6), lymphocytic gastritis (n = 5) and other causes including idiopathic gastritis and chronic renal failure related (n = 7). Most of the included studies were either cross-sectional or longitudinal cohorts except for collagenous gastritis, which mainly included case reports and case series. The prevalence of paediatric eosinophilic gastritis ranges between 5 and 7/100,000 and patients have generally favourable outcome with 50% to 70% clinical and histological response to either corticosteroids or elimination diets. Autoimmune gastritis and collagenous gastritis are extremely rare entities, commonly present with refractory iron deficiency anaemia, while lymphocytic gastritis is relatively common (10%-45%) in children with coeliac disease. Data on treatments and outcomes of autoimmune, collagenous, and focally enhanced gastritis are lacking with limited data implying poor response to therapy in the former 2 diagnoses.

CONCLUSIONS

Helicobacter pylori-negative gastritis is uncommonly reported, mainly in small cohorts, mixed adult-paediatric cohorts or as sporadic case reports. As common symptoms are not specific, thus not always result in an endoscopic evaluation, the true prevalence of these distinct disorders may be underestimated, and thus under reported.

Pernicious Anemia: The Hematological Presentation of a Multifaceted Disorder Caused by Cobalamin Deficiency

Pernicious anemia is still a neglected disorder in many medical contexts and is underdiagnosed in many patients. Pernicious anemia is linked to but different from autoimmune gastritis. Pernicious anemia occurs in a later stage of autoimmune atrophic gastritis when gastric intrinsic factor deficiency and consequent vitamin B₁₂ deficiency may occur. The multifaceted nature of pernicious anemia is related to the important role of cobalamin, which, when deficient, may lead to several dysfunctions, and thus, the proteiform clinical presentations of pernicious anemia. Indeed, pernicious anemia may lead to potentially serious long-term complications related to micronutrient deficiencies and their consequences and the development of gastric cancer and type 1 gastric neuroendocrine tumors. When not recognized in a timely manner or when pernicious anemia is diagnosed with delay, these complications may be potentially life-threatening and sometimes irreversible. The current review aimed to focus on epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical presentations of pernicious anemia in an attempt to look beyond borders of medical specialties. It aimed to focus on micronutrient deficiencies besides the well-known vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, the diagnostic approach for pernicious anemia, its long-term complications and optimal clinical management, and endoscopic surveillance of patients with pernicious anemia.

Is Endoscopic Assessment of the Esophagus and Stomach Enough to Determine the Need for Biopsy at These Sites in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Endoscopy for Elevated TTG?

OBJECTIVES

The goal of our study was to determine whether visual assessment of the esophagus and stomach could predict abnormal histology and determine the frequency of interventions based on biopsies in patients undergoing endoscopy for elevated tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin A antibody (TTG).

METHODS

Pathology records were searched for patients with biopsy performed for elevated TTG. Pathology report, endoscopy report, and follow-up were obtained and slides from the duodenum reviewed. Pathology was considered gold standard for sensitivity and specificity calculations.

RESULTS

240 patients were included. 215 patients had esophageal biopsies performed. Esophageal endoscopic visual assessment had sensitivity of 47% and specificity of 93% for abnormal histology. 16(7%) patients had therapy or referral related to results and, of these, 6(38%) had visually normal endoscopy. 237 biopsies were performed of stomach. Gastric endoscopic visual assessment had a sensitivity and specificity of 20% and 87%. 24(10%) patients had therapy based on findings and, of these, 12 (50%) had visually normal endoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic assessment of esophagus and stomach has low sensitivity and high specificity for pathologic abnormalities when indication for endoscopy is elevated TTG. When endoscopy is visually normal clinical interventions based on biopsy are rare, and foregoing biopsy may be considered.

Autoimmune Gastritis and Gastric Microbiota

Autoimmune atrophic gastritis is an organ-specific immune-mediated condition characterized by atrophy of the oxyntic mucosa. Autoimmune atrophic gastritis (AIG) is characterized by a progressive loss of acid-secreting parietal cells leading to hypo-achlorhydria. Due to this peculiar intra-gastric environment, gastric microbiota composition in individuals with autoimmune atrophic gastritis was first supposed and then recently reported to be different from subjects with a normal acidic healthy stomach. Recent data confirm the prominent role of Helicobacter pylori as the main bacterium responsible for gastric disease and long-term complications. However, other bacteria than Helicobacter pylori, for example, Streptococci, were found in subjects who developed gastric cancer and in subjects at risk of this fearful complication, as well as those with autoimmune gastritis. Gastric microbiota composition is challenging to study due to the acidic gastric environment, the difficulty of obtaining representative samples of the entire gastric microbiota, and the possible contamination by oral or throat microorganisms, which can potentially lead to the distortion of the original gastric microbial composition, but innovative molecular approaches based on the analysis of the hyper-variable region of the 16S rRNA gene have been developed, permitting us to obtain an overall microbial composition view of the RNA gene that is present only in prokaryotic cells.

Autoimmune gastritis

Autoimmune gastritis (AIG) is an increasingly prevalent, organ-specific, immune-mediated disorder characterized by the destruction of gastric parietal cells, leading to the loss of intrinsic factor and reduced acid output. These alterations result in malabsorption of iron, vitamin B₁₂ (pernicious anaemia) and potentially other micronutrients. For several years, most studies have focused on pernicious anaemia only, generating confusion between the two entities. In AIG, the gastric proton pump, H⁺/K⁺ ATPase, is the major autoantigen recognized by autoreactive T cells. The T cell-dependent activation of B cells stimulates the production of anti-parietal cell antibodies, the serological hallmark of AIG. The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in activating or favouring the autoimmune process is still uncertain. Early histopathological alterations allowing a more precise and prompt recognition have recently been described. AIG is burdened by a substantial diagnostic delay as it can present with varied clinical signs including, among others, gastrointestinal symptoms and neuropsychiatric manifestations. In advanced stages, AIG might progress to neuroendocrine tumours and gastric adenocarcinoma. Management includes early detection through a proactive case-finding strategy, micronutrient supplementation and endoscopic surveillance. This Primer comprehensively describes the most important insights regarding the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of AIG, focusing on the most controversial, outstanding issues and future directions.

The coeliac stomach: A review of the literature

Beyond the small intestine, coeliac disease (CeD) may affect other gastrointestinal tracts, including the stomach. However, various studies have reported conflicting results regarding the association between CeD and gastric manifestations. The aim of this study was to analyze the existing literature on gastric involvement in CeD. A literature search was conducted in bibliographic databases of Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies reporting the association between CeD and gastric disorders were examined in detail and are fully described in the review. Both in children and adults, a strong correlation between lymphocytic gastritis and CeD was found at CeD diagnosis, and lymphocytic gastritis seemed to improve on a gluten-free diet. Most of the literature described a lower risk of gastritis related to Helicobacter pylori infection in CeD subjects compared to controls. However, due to the discordance among studies in terms of study design and population, a clear association could not be determined. Finally, the relationship between CeD and reflux or dyspepsia has yet to be defined, as well as the association between CeD and autoimmune gastritis. CeD appears to be a multiform entity associated with different gastric disorders with a different degree of relationship. Thus, gastric biopsies should be routinely taken during upper endoscopy in CeD patients.

The changing face of chronic autoimmune atrophic gastritis: an updated comprehensive perspective

Chronic autoimmune atrophic gastritis (CAAG) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease, which affects the corpus-fundus gastric mucosa. Although it has been described for several years, the real pathophysiological mechanisms, the natural history and the possible neoplastic complications are not completely known. Atrophy of the gastric mucosa is the endpoint of the chronic processes, with the loss of glandular cells and their replacement by intestinal-type epithelium, pyloric-type glands, and fibrous tissue. As a consequence, hydrochloric acid, pepsin and intrinsic-factor is impaired resulting in pernicious anemia. The exact causal agent is not yet known, but both genetic and environmental factors seem to play a decisive role. Moreover, the clinical onset may assume different characteristics; differently from what previously observed, recent evidence has reported the onset of CAAG at a younger age, frequently with iron deficiency anemia or upper gastro-intestinal symptoms. The diagnosis of CAAG might be challenging and usually requires the combination of clinical, serological and histopathologic data; moreover, CAAG patients are often misdiagnosed as refractory to HP eradication therapy, probably because achlorhydria might allow urease-positive bacteria other than H pylori to colonize the stomach, causing positive 13C-urea breath test results. However, biopsy is the most reliable method to evaluate the presence of metaplastic atrophic gastritis. In order to assess the severity of gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, OLGA and OLGIM staging systems have been proposed and seem to correlate with the risk of developing gastric adenocarcinoma. Indeed, CAAG represents a pre-neoplastic condition, as patients with CAAG are very likely to develop either type-1 gastric neuroendocrine tumors and gastric adenocarcinomas, as well as several other neoplastic diseases. To date, the need, the intervals and cost-effectiveness of endoscopic/histological surveillance for patients with CAAG/pernicious anemia are yet to be established.

Microbes and Viruses Are Bugging the Gut in Celiac Disease. Are They Friends or Foes?

The links between microorganisms/viruses and autoimmunity are complex and multidirectional. A huge number of studies demonstrated the triggering impact of microbes and viruses as the major environmental factors on the autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. However, growing evidences suggest that infectious agents can also play a protective role or even abrogate these processes. This protective crosstalk between microbes/viruses and us might represent a mutual beneficial equilibrium relationship between two cohabiting ecosystems. The protective pathways might involve post-translational modification of proteins, decreased intestinal permeability, Th1 to Th2 immune shift, induction of apoptosis, auto-aggressive cells relocation from the target organ, immunosuppressive extracellular vesicles and down regulation of auto-reactive cells by the microbial derived proteins. Our analysis demonstrates that the interaction of the microorganisms/viruses and celiac disease (CD) is always a set of multidirectional processes. A deeper inquiry into the CD interplay with Herpes viruses and Helicobacter pylori demonstrates that the role of these infections, suggested to be potential CD protectors, is not as controversial as for the other infectious agents. The outcome of these interactions might be due to a balance between these multidirectional processes.

Prediction of esophageal and gastric histology by macroscopic diagnosis during upper endoscopy in pediatric celiac disease

AIM

To determine the sensitivity of macroscopic appearance for predicting histological diagnosis at sites other than duodenum in pediatric celiac disease (CD).

METHODS

Endoscopic and histologic findings in pediatric patients undergoing upper endoscopy for first-time diagnosis of CD at Stollery Children’s Hospital from 2010-2012 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Clinical charts from 140 patients were reviewed. Esophageal and gastric biopsies were taken in 54.3% and 77.9% of patients, respectively. Endoscopic appearance was normal in the esophagus and stomach in 75% and 86.2%. Endoscopic esophageal diagnoses were eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) (11.8%), esophagitis (7.9%), glycogenic acanthosis (1.3%) and non-specific abnormalities (3.9%). Endoscopic gastric diagnoses were gastritis (8.3%), pancreatic rest (0.9%), and non-specific abnormalities (4.6%). Histology was normal in 76.3% of esophageal and 87.2% of gastric specimens. Abnormal esophageal histology was EE (10.5%), esophagitis (10.5%), glycogenic acanthosis (1.3%) and non-specific (1.3%). Gastritis was reported in 12.8% of specimens. Sensitivity and specificity of normal endoscopy for predicting normal esophageal histology was 86.2% and 61.1%, and for normal gastric histology was 87.4% and 21.4%.

CONCLUSION

In the absence of macroscopic abnormalities, routine esophageal and gastric biopsy during endoscopy for pediatric CD does not identify major pathologies. These findings have cost and time saving implications for clinical practice.

Is There any Association Between Celiac Disease and Helicobacter pylori?

Objective

It was aimed to determine if there was a correlation between celiac disease (CD) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) by comparing the prevalence of H. pylori in patients with and without CD.

Materials and methods

The patients who were diagnosed with CD and tested for H. pylori and the patients who presented for gastroscopy and tested for H. pylori were evaluated retrospectively and the prevalence of H. pylori was compared.

Results

Fifteen (48%) of 31 patients who were diagnosed with CD and tested for H. pylori were males and had a mean age of 33.1 ± 12.7 years (17–72). In the CD group, H. pylori was positive in 15 patients (48%), and 592 antrum biopsy that was performed were included as the control group. Of these patients, 299 (50.5%) were males and had a mean age of 44.4 ± 17.05 years (16–96). Helicobacter pylori were positive in 316 patients (53.4%). Helicobacter pylori prevalence was similar in the groups with and without CD (p > 0.5).

Conclusion

Although the prevalence of H. pylori was lower in celiac patients compared to the control group, the difference was not statistically significant. Although no findings suggesting a correlation between CD and H. pylori was found, further studies should be conducted.

How to cite this article

Uyanikoglu A, Dursun H, Yenice N. Is There any Association Between Celiac Disease and Helicobacter pylori? Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2016;6(2):103-105.

Pathological and Clinical Correlation between Celiac Disease and Helicobacter Pylori Infection; a Review of Controversial Reports

There are overwhelming reports and descriptions about celiac associated disorders. Although there is a clear genetic association between celiac disease (CD) and some gastrointestinal disorders, there are controversial reports claiming an association between CD and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Different studies indicated the possible association between lymphocytic gastritis and both CD and H. pylori infection, although this evidence is not consistently accepted. Also it was shown that an increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes count is associated with both H. pylori infection and celiac disease. Therefore the following questions may raise: how far is this infection actually related to CD?, which are the underlying patho-mechanisms for these associations? what are the clinical implications? what is the management? and what would be the role of gluten free diet in treating these conditions? PubMed (PubMed Central), Ovid, ISI of web knowledge, and Google scholar were searched for full text articles published between 1985 and 2015. The associated keywords were used, and papers described particularly the impact of pathological and clinical correlation between CD and H. pylori infection were identified. In this review we tried to answer the above questions and discussed some of the recent developments in the pathological and clinical aspects of CD and H. pylori infection.

Iron deficiency anemia in celiac disease

Iron is an important micronutrient that may be depleted in celiac disease. Iron deficiency and anemia may complicate well-established celiac disease, but may also be the presenting clinical feature in the absence of diarrhea or weight loss. If iron deficiency anemia occurs, it should be thoroughly evaluated, even if celiac disease has been defined since other superimposed causes of iron deficiency anemia may be present. Most often, impaired duodenal mucosal uptake of iron is evident since surface absorptive area in the duodenum is reduced, in large part, because celiac disease is an immune-mediated disorder largely focused in the proximal small intestinal mucosa. Some studies have also suggested that blood loss may occur in celiac disease, sometimes from superimposed small intestinal disorders, including ulceration or neoplastic diseases, particularly lymphoma. In addition, other associated gastric or colonic disorders may be responsible for blood loss. Rarely, an immune-mediated hemolytic disorder with increased urine iron loss may occur that may respond to a gluten-free diet. Reduced expression of different regulatory proteins critical in iron uptake has also been defined in the presence and absence of anemia. Finally, other rare causes of microcytic anemia may occur in celiac disease, including a sideroblastic form of anemia reported to have responded to a gluten-free diet.

Dyspepsia and celiac disease: Prevalence, diagnostic tools and therapy

The prevalence of dyspepsia is up to 40% in population-based study. Functional dyspepsia is an exclusion diagnosis and it is classified as a chronic abdominal pain-related functional disorder, characterized by the presence of persistent or recurrent pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen, neither relief by defecation, nor association with the onset of a change in stool frequency or form. Celiac disease (CD) is a common autoimmune enteropathy, with a prevalence around 1% in the general population. Its diagnosis includes a serological screening and an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with multiple biopsies. Gluten-free diet is the only effective treatment. CD diagnosis is often delayed in asymptomatic patients or in individuals with less clinical gastrointestinal symptoms. Several studies performed coeliac disease screening in patients with symptoms suggestive of dyspepsia, showing a biopsy-proved prevalence that ranged from 0.5% to 2%. The typical endoscopic markers of villous atrophy are not sufficiently sensitive, so some endoscopic techniques, such as “water immersion” and confocal endomicroscopy were proposed to improve the diagnostic sensitivity and target biopsies. A recent meta-analysis estimated that the prevalence of CD was higher in patients with dyspepsia, but not in a statistically significant way. However this assumption should be confirmed further larger studies.