Granulomatous Upper Gastrointestinal Inflammation in Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Differentiating ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD) can be clinically challenging, especially in children. Granulomatous inflammation has traditionally been attributed to CD. Crypt-associated giant cells and granulomas, however, have been observed in colonic biopsies of patients with UC. This phenomenon has not been described in the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract with UC.

Methods

Seven pediatric patients with UC with granulomatous UGI (gUGI) lesions were identified. Diagnosis of UC was based on symptoms, clinical course, laboratory results, imaging, and endoscopy. We compared the gUGI patients to a large cohort of pediatric patients with UC (n = 149).

Results

All fully evaluated cases were associated with bloody diarrhea and moderate to sever

SUBMITTER: Queliza K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5866164 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature