A fatal case of portal hypertension complicating systemic mastocytosis in an adolescent

Portal hypertension was observed in a 17-year-old girl with urticaria pigmentosa since 2 months of age. Liver biopsies showed portal and sinusoidal infiltration with mast cells although spleen biopsies showed only fibrosis. CONCLUSION. Portal hypertension is a complication of systemic mastocytosis that can lead to death. Treatment with interferon alpha might be effective.

The role of "occult" gastroesophageal reflux in chronic pulmonary disease in children

It has repeatedly been demonstrated that a correlation exists between gastroesophageal reflux and the presence of various "atypical" complaints, such as recurrent chest pain, apneic attacks in infants, and recurrent or chronic respiratory symptoms. Very recently it has been shown that gastroesophageal reflux is frequently associated with non-controlled asthma in children and that medical treatment for reflux can improve the further course of respiratory disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate a possible cause-relationship between recurrent respiratory symptoms in children and the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease, and to investigate the value of continuous 24-hour esophageal pH-monitoring in the diagnosis and management of these complaints in 62 children with chronic respiratory disease. Continuous 24-hour pH-monitoring was abnormal in 39/62 patients (62.9%). However, no statistically significant correlation could be detected between the presence of gastroesophageal reflux and various anamnestic parameters (parental smoking, pet in household, sibling with gastroesophageal reflux disease), or concomitant atopy. All children that were found positive for gastroesophageal reflux (n = 39) were started on an antireflux therapy (cisapride 0.2 mg/kg q.i.d.). This treatment resulted in an improvement of the symptoms in 84.6%. We conclude that gastroesophageal reflux is an important (causative) factor in chronic recurrent respiratory disease. This entity is often resistant to "classical" respiratory treatment, but can be treated with an anti-reflux therapy. We, therefore, suggest to perform continuous 24-hour esophageal pH-monitorings as a standard procedure in all patients with recurrent respiratory complaints, independent of the severity of their symptoms.

[Frequency of gastroesophageal reflux in infants and in young children with cystic fibrosis]

BACKGROUND

Gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) is common in chronic bronchopulmonary diseases, and may aggravate them. The aim of this study was to study frequency and characteristics of GER in infants and toddlers with cystic fibrosis (CF).

POPULATION AND METHODS

Twenty-five CF patients, 45 to 954 days-old (mean 219 days) without clinical evidence of bronchopulmonary infection, were studied by prolonged pHmetry (19.45 +/- 1.89 hours). Their pulmonary state was evaluated by the number of previous courses of antibiotic treatment and analysis of the X-rays.

RESULTS

Nineteen children had GER (76%); four of them had no clinical sign of GER. All 19 patients had mild or moderate signs of pulmonary impairment. The reflux index (percentage of time with pH < 4) was 12.82%. The GER episodes were more frequent during walking time (p < 0.001), but longer during sleeping time (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

GER is frequent in CF patients, even the youngest. It seems primary, and not related to pulmonary impairment. Its frequency and its potential severity lead to suggesting a pHmetry to every new CF patient.

[Helicobacter pylori infection in children]

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a pathogen of human gastric mucosa and is considered as the major cause of chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcer disease recurrence. The prevalence rate of Hp infection increases with age and is related to low socioeconomic status in childhood. Childhood appears to be a high-risk period for Hp infection. Clinical and histological features of Hp infection are variable and often moderate in children. This is probably due to both genetic and environmental factors. Abdominal pain is the most frequent symptom and is usually associated with a mild chronic gastritis. Serology, 13C-urea breath test, bacterial culture and histological examination of biopsy specimen can be used for the diagnosis of Hp infection. Eradication of Hp infection is difficult and indications and modalities of treatment need to be specified in children. A better knowledge of epidemiology and natural history of Hp infection in childhood should permit to answer these questions.

Lipoprotein pattern and plasma lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity in children with Alagille syndrome

Alagille syndrome is frequently associated with hyperlipidemia and xanthoma. The aim of the study was to assess the lipid profile (plasma lipoproteins, apolipoproteins (apo)) and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) activity, with and without treatment with cholestyramine in Alagille syndrome. Five children (mean age = 6 +/- 4 years) with Alagille syndrome were studied at two different times while receiving no treatment, and while receiving cholestyramine. They were compared with 12 normal controls, who were not different from patients for age and sex. In Alagille syndrome, total serum cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids were elevated compared with the controls (P < 0.008). VLDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-triglycerides, LDL-triglycerides and VLDL-phospholipids were higher, whereas HDL-cholesterol was lower than controls (P < 0.03). Apo B, CIII, E and lipoprotein particles Lp AI were higher (P < 0.001), whereas Lp AI:AII was lower than controls (P < 0.03). Lipoprotein-X was present in the 5 children with Alagille syndrome and explained in part the elevation of plasma cholesterol, phospholipids, and apo CIII. LCAT activity was decreased (P < 0.01) and might cause some abnormalities of HDL with lower cholesterol, higher triglycerides, apo E and apo CIII contents than controls, and abnormalities of VLDL and LDL with higher cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and apo B contents than controls. Some of the risk factors of atherosclerosis were found in Alagille syndrome, namely high levels of plasma cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apo B, apo B/apo AI. Treatment with cholestyramine resulted in a few modifications to the lipid profile, while lipoprotein-X and the decrease of LCAT activity persisted.

Prognostic value of esophageal manometry in antireflux surgery in childhood

To assess the predictive value of preoperative esophageal manometric study in the outcome of antireflux surgery, 14 children with severe gastroesophageal reflux (GER) who underwent surgery were studied retrospectively. Five patients had neuromuscular disease; one had been operated on for esophageal atresia. After extended (> 20 h) esophageal pH monitoring and/or barium swallow study, all patients underwent preoperative manometric study. After surgery, the patients were followed for 4 months to 4 years. Functional complications were noted after mechanical complications were eliminated. All patients had normal upper esophageal sphincter pressure (UESp); the resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESp) was decreased in four patients, and seven had esophageal body motility trouble. Functional complications occurred in two patients. One was a neurologically involved patient who had had a normal preoperative manometric study; the other was the patient who had been operated on for esophageal atresia. No complications occurred in four patients who had had abnormal preoperative manometric studies. We conclude that, in this group of patients, esophageal manometric study has no predictive value in the outcome of the surgical procedure; however, it still would be interesting to elucidate the mechanisms of GER, especially in congenital abnormalities such as esophageal atresia.

High prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in cohabiting children. Epidemiology of a cluster, with special emphasis on molecular typing

Intrafamilial cases of infection with the same strain of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) have been reported but these clusters were too small to distinguish between person to person spread or coinfection from a common environmental source. To gain more information on the mode of transmission of H pylori, an epidemiological survey with bacterial strain differentiation by restriction endonuclease analysis of chromosomal DNA was carried out in an institution of 117 children with encephalopathy (aged 3.5 to 19 years). All children with antibodies against H pylori had gastroscopy to obtain gastric biopsy specimens. The prevalence of infection (confirmed histologically or microbiologically, or both) was 38% (45/117), and rose to 67% in one of the five sections of the institution. H pylori was isolated in 34/45 cases, and 22 different strains were found of which five strains were present in more than one child. Up to seven children were infected by the same strain, five of them were living in the same section. Analysis of the characteristics of infected children showed the predominant role of living conditions and the period of time cohabiting in this unexpectedly high prevalence of H pylori infection in children living in good sanitary conditions.

Detection of H. pylori in saliva using a monoclonal antibody

The presence of Helicobacter pylori in saliva specimens collected from infected children examined before and after specific therapy and from a non-infected pediatric population was detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF) using a specific monoclonal antibody. Among the 25 children with H. pylori-negative antral biopsies, 4 had in their salivas bacterial cells similar to H. pylori, but a retrospectively performed serologic test showed a positive response. No false-positive reaction was observed among non-infected and seronegative children. The observation of bacterial cells with H. pylori morphology in saliva by IIF was consistent with the presence of this bacterium in antral biopsies. A person-to-person transmission of H. pylori by saliva thus appeared to be possible.

[Cow's milk proteins intolerance disclosed by ulcero-necrotizing enterocolitis in a full-term infant]

BACKGROUND

Necrotizing enterocolitis associated with milk protein intolerance is rare.

CASE REPORT

A girl, born at term, weighing 3,150 g, was fed several different formulas because of persistent vomiting and diarrhea; some of these formulas contained cow's milk proteins. At 5 weeks of age, the patient developed acute abdominal distension and obstructive manifestations. Laparotomy showed intestinal distension and perforation of the distal small bowel, requiring resection with temporary ileostomy. Histological examination of the resected segment of the small bowel showed extensive necrosis of the mucosa and submucosa with involvement of the muscular layers. The patient was given parenteral nutrition for 3 weeks then refed with human milk. Cow's milk was introduced at the age of 2 1/2 months; this was immediately followed by vomiting and an anaphylactic reaction, with increased ileostomy fluid volume and blood and sugars in stools. A jejunal biopsy performed 3 weeks later showed moderate villous atrophy with a dense infiltrate of eosinophils below the epithelium. The RAST test was positive to beta-lactoglobulin and negative to casein and lactalbumin. The patient tolerated cow milk by the age of 18 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Cow's milk protein tolerance should be evaluated when necrotizing enterocolitis occurs in the absence of classical risk factors.

Traumatic chylous ascites: conservative management

Traumatic chylous ascites is very rare. In the majority of cases, the diagnosis is made by laparotomy. The case of a 5-year-old girl with traumatic chylous ascites is presented. The authors give their experience in nonoperative management.

Comparison of fiberendoscopy and Watson capsule for small intestinal biopsy in infants and children

We analyzed the results of 607 small bowel biopsies performed over a seven-year period: 284 biopsies were obtained using a fiberendoscope and 323 biopsies using a Watson capsule. Three to six specimens were removed during endoscopy. The biopsy fragments obtained with the fiberendoscope were deeper than those obtained with the Watson capsule (p less than 0.0001) and were more often located in the duodenum (p less than 0.0001). The failure rate of the fiberendoscope biopsies (1%) was lower than for the Watson capsule biopsies (9%) (p less than 0.0001). Multiple biopsies increased the diagnostic value of fiberendoscopy which was 95% versus 85% for Watson capsule. The mean duration of the endoscopic procedure recorded in 30 children was 6.5 min for four to six samples, i.e. 1.5 min per biopsy specimen. Fiberendoscopy appears to be an efficient and safe method for performing small bowel biopsies in infants and children.