Upper gastrointestinal mucosal disease in pediatric Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: a blinded, controlled study

Jacinta Tobin, Binayak Sinha, Pramila Ramani, AR Saleh, Michael Murphy

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    140 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsies often show histologic abnormalities in Crohn disease. Consequently, it has been proposed that routine endoscopy could help to distinguish Crohn disease from ulcerative colitis. Surprisingly, however, recent case reports and an uncontrolled study suggested that similar abnormalities may occur in ulcerative colitis. Therefore, a blinded, controlled study was performed. METHODS: Esophageal, gastric antral, and duodenal biopsies from children with Crohn disease (n = 28) and ulcerative colitis (n = 14) were compared with those from controls undergoing endoscopy for suspected reflux esophagitis (n = 22). Two pathologists, unaware of patient identity and diagnosis, agreed on a consensus report. Severity of inflammation was scored semiquantitatively. Helicobacter pylori colonization was an exclusion criterion. RESULTS: Inflammation was reported as follows: esophagitis: controls 91%; Crohn disease: 72%; ulcerative colitis: 50%; gastritis: controls: 27%; Crohn disease: 92% (P <0.001); ulcerative colitis: 69%; duodenitis: controls: 9%; Crohn disease: 33%; ulcerative colitis: 23%. In Crohn disease, granulomas were noted in 40% of patients (P = 0.001). Duodenal cryptitis was noted in 26% of patients with Crohn disease but not ulcerative colitis. In one patient with ulcerative colitis, neutrophilic infiltration of gastric glands was seen. Abnormalities seen in Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis included gastroduodenal ulceration (Crohn disease, 7%; ulcerative colitis, 8%), villus atrophy (Crohn disease, 11%; ulcerative colitis, 15%), and increased intraepithelial lymphocytes (Crohn disease, 15%; ulcerative colitis, 31% [P <0.05]). None of these abnormalities was noted in the controls. CONCLUSION: Although the presence of granulomas can support a diagnosis of Crohn disease, severe inflammation and other abnormalities occur in the proximal gastrointestinal tract in Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)443-448
    Number of pages6
    JournalJournal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
    Volume32
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2001

    Keywords

    • ulcerative colitis
    • inflammatory bowel diseases
    • gastritis
    • indeterminate colitis
    • esophagitis
    • Crohn disease
    • duodenitis

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Upper gastrointestinal mucosal disease in pediatric Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: a blinded, controlled study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this