Peptic ulcer disease in the pediatric population

Trend of gastrointestinal and liver diseases in China: Results of the Global Burden of Disease Study, 2019

BACKGROUND

China is one of the countries with the largest burden of gastrointestinal and liver diseases (GILD) in the world. The GILD constitutes various causes of mortality and disability. The study aimed to investigate the trend of GILD in China using the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019 (GBD 2019) data resources from 1990 to 2019.

METHODS

The data on the age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for GILD in China from 1990 to 2019 were collected from the GBD 2019 data resources. Furthermore, the ranking of the main causes of deaths and DALYs, as well as the trends of ASMR, DALYs, years of life lost (YLLs), and years of life lost due to disability (YLDs) per 1,000,000 in GILD were reported.

RESULTS

The ASMR and DALYs for stomach cancer, liver cancer, and esophageal cancer, which ranked top three among the GILDs from 1990 to 2019, were gradually decreasing. Significant decreases in the ASMR and DALYs were found in diarrheal diseases and acute hepatitis (A, E, and C). However, noteworthy increases were found in those of colon and rectum cancer (CRC) and pancreatic cancer. Trend of DALYs, mortality, and YLLs rates for most of GILD were decreasing from 1990 to 2019, except the burden of CRC and pancreatic cancer with an increasing trend. The DALYs, mortality and YLLs of most GILD diseases showed decreasing trends from 1990 to 2019, except the burden of CRC and pancreatic cancer with an increasing trends.

CONCLUSIONS

The result of the GBD 2019 showed that the rates of most GILDs decreased in China; however, gastrointestinal and liver cancer, such as stomach cancer still held the top ranking. Furthermore, the shift from infectious diseases to non-communicable causes among GILD burden is occurring.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasound for Detecting Gastric or Duodenal Ulcers in Pediatric Patients

OBJECTIVE

Direct ultrasound imaging findings alone have low sensitivity for diagnosing duodenal (65%) and gastric ulcers (40%). This retrospective study evaluated the efficiency of ultrasound in detecting gastric/duodenal ulcers in pediatric patients through direct and indirect findings.

METHODS

We evaluated 244 children who underwent ultrasound and subsequent endoscopy within 4 weeks for direct and indirect imaging findings indicative of gastric/duodenal ulcers. Positive direct imaging findings revealed gastric or duodenal wall thickness >8 or 5 mm, respectively, and indirect findings revealed inflammatory changes, hyperechogenicity, and presence of lymph node around ulcers. Correspondingly, we calculated the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing gastric/duodenal ulcers and used the Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U tests to compare the frequency of findings and gastroduodenal wall thicknesses in pediatric patients with gastric/duodenal ulcers.

RESULTS

Overall, 6 and 24 were diagnosed with gastric and duodenal ulcers, respectively. The sensitivities of direct and indirect findings were 60.0% (18/30) and 80.0% (24/30), respectively; the corresponding specificities were 98.1% (210/214) and 97.2% (208/214). The frequency of direct and indirect sonographic findings differed significantly between patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers (18/30 versus 24/30, P = .002). Gastric and duodenal wall thicknesses were greater in patients with gastric (6.6 ± 2.6 mm versus 3.6 ± 1.4 mm; P = .003) or duodenal ulcer (5.0 ± 1.4 mm versus 2.2 ± 1.0 mm; P <.0001), respectively, than in those without.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of indirect finding was greater than that of direct finding in pediatric patients with gastric/duodenal ulcers. Therefore, sonographers should carefully evaluate indirect findings around the stomach or duodenum.

Usefulness of Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Peptic Ulcer Disease in Children

PURPOSE

This study was performed to assess the clinical usefulness of transabdominal ultrasonography (TUS) in detecting peptic ulcer disease (PUD) in children.

METHODS

Twenty-four patients (19 boys, 5 girls; mean age, 10.6±4.5 years [range, 3.0-17.9 years]) who were admitted to the hospital for acute abdomen or gastrointestinal bleeding and diagnosed with PUD by endoscopy and who underwent TUS were included. Clinical data were retrospectively collected by reviewing patient medical records. Gastric ulcer (GU) was suspected when the gastric wall exceeded 8 mm in thickness and had lost its five-layer structure on TUS. Duodenal ulcer (DU) was suspected if the duodenal wall thickness exceeded 5 mm.

RESULTS

Sensitivity of TUS in diagnosing PUD was 66.7% for GU and 38.9% for DU. Mean age and body weight of the 11 patients suspected with PUD on TUS were 10.9±4.4 years and 38.1±17.2 kg, respectively. For 13 patients without suspected PUD, they were 12.1±4.1 years and 39.6±17.0 kg, respectively. There was a significant difference in height, weight, and body mass index between patients who were suspected to have PUD and those who were not suspected on TUS (p=0.014, 0.008, and 0.005, respectively). A significant difference in the sensitivity of TUS in diagnosing PUD was found between patients under 30 kg and those over 30 kg (88.9% and 20.0%, respectively; p=0.003).

CONCLUSION

TUS investigation of the stomach and duodenum is an efficient method for PUD detection in children with low body weight. TUS can be used in preliminary diagnostic work-up before further invasive tests.

Nondiarrheal Disorders of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Neonatal Foals

Neonates can have a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, primary and secondary in nature. Important primary disorders include con-genital abnormalities and meconium retention. One of the most important secondary lesions is generalized ileus. Gastric ulceration can occur as a primary or secondary event. This article addresses the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of gastrointestinal problems commonly observed in neonatal foals.

Upper GI bleeding in healthy full-term infants: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate the frequency and the type of mucosal lesions in newborn babies with upper GI bleeding (UGIB), the diagnostic role and safety of upper GI endoscopy, and the recognition of risk factors associated with the hemorrhagic event.

METHODS

A population of 5180 infants born from June, 1988 to May, 1997 was examined. A case was defined as any patient who had UGIB within 4 days of delivery. The diagnosis was made by endoscopic examination in an endoscopy room. The following parameters were determined: amniotic fluid features, funicular blood pH, Apgar index at 5 min, neonatal weight, body length, gestational age, and the presence of other pathologies. Biochemical profiles were also evaluated. Clinical and demographic data of the mothers of the newborn babies were analyzed. Sera of cases and the respective parents were tested for gastrin and pepsinogen. As a control group, 53 full-term healthy infants matched for sex and age were randomly selected from the population of infants born in our pediatric department.

RESULTS

Sixty-four of 5180 newborn babies (1.23%) suffered from UGIB within 26.5 +/- 20 h of life. In 53 of 64 cases (mean age = 24.2 +/- 25.5 h) it was possible to carry out an endoscopic examination. In one case, endoscopy was limited to the esophagus because of the presence of multiple mucosal ulcers and substenosis of the viscus. Esophageal damage was observed in 24/53 patients. The esophageal lesions were isolated in nine cases, and occurred jointly with gastric or duodenal damage in 14 cases and one, respectively. Gastric and duodenal lesions were seen in 43/52 and 1/52 patients, respectively. There were 17 cases of gastric ulcers and one case of duodenal ulcer. Blood clots were observed in 14 gastric ulcer patients; in one case there was evidence of active bleeding at the margins of a gastric ulcer. There was no significant difference with regard to the demographic and clinical characteristics of the cases and controls. Median values of serum gastrin of the cases and controls were similar. Median serum pepsinogen was significantly higher in the case group.

CONCLUSIONS

UGIB in the newborn babies is often associated with clinically relevant mucosal lesions of the upper GI tract. The evolution, after treatment with antisecretory drugs, is generally rapid and favorable, with clinical recovery usually obtained within 24-48 h. The higher serum pepsinogen levels may only represent a significant risk factor of mucosal lesions and complications.

Intragastric pH in critically ill neonatal foals and the effect of ranitidine

OBJECTIVE

To characterize intragastric pH profiles in critically ill foals and determine whether administration of ranitidine altered pH profiles.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

ANIMALS

23 hospitalized neonatal foals < or = 4 days of age.

PROCEDURE

Intragastric pH was measured continuously for up to 24 hours by use of an indwelling electrode and continuous data recording system. In 21 foals, ranitidine was administered IV.

RESULTS

10 foals had predominantly or exclusively alkaline profiles, 10 had profiles typical of those reported for healthy foals, with periods of acidity (hourly mean pH < 5.0 at least once), and 3 had atypical profiles with periods of acidity. All 10 foals that had intragastric pH profiles typical of healthy foals survived, whereas only 2 foals with alkaline profiles survived, and none of the foals with atypical profiles survived. The effects of ranitidine administration could not be assessed in 13 foals because of a high baseline intragastric pH. In 7 of the remaining 9, ranitidine administration resulted in an alkalinizing response, but this response was often of blunted duration. Ranitidine administration did not appear to alter the intragastric pH profile in the remaining 2 foals.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results suggested that hospitalized critically ill foals often have intragastric pH profiles different from those reported for healthy foals and may respond differently to ranitidine administration than do healthy foals. Many critically ill foals have continuously alkaline intragastric pH profiles, questioning the need for prophylactic administration of ranitidine in all critically ill foals.

Perforated peptic ulcer disease in children: association of corticosteroid therapy

Four children were treated at the Oregon Health Sciences University for perforated peptic ulcer disease over the last 15 years. All children were being treated for other severe underlying diseases at the time of perforation. All of the children were receiving corticosteroids; one was receiving ulcer prophylaxis. Presenting symptoms were those of a perforated viscus, and pneumoperitoneum was present in all patients. Simple closure and omental patching of the ulcer resulted in no operative mortality or morbidity. None of the ulcers have recurred. In reviewing the literature, corticosteroids were associated with perforated peptic ulcer disease in 17.8% of children with perforated peptic ulcer. Despite controversy regarding the role of corticosteroids in the causation of peptic ulcer, we recommend prophylaxis for all children receiving corticosteroids.

Peptic ulcer disease in children

Primary duodenal ulcer disease occurs in children of all ages, but is most often seen in those over 10 years. As in the adult, it often pursues a chronic course. Primary gastric ulcer is seen in children under 6 years, is more unusual, and does not tend to recur. Stress ulcers are seen most often in infants and in critically ill children and are asymptomatic until the complications of hemorrhage or perforation appear. Drug-related ulcers are being seen more frequently as the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents increases. With the use of new therapeutic agents, management has been simplified and surgical intervention has become a rarity. Helicobacter pylori is now a recognized cause of antral gastritis and ulceration in the child.

The Campylobacter pylori story

The Campylobacter pylori story began before the turn of the century, with early works describing 'spirochaetes' in the gastric mucosa of animals. Culture of the organism in 1982 enabled investigators to make sense of the many previous works concerning the microbiology, biochemistry, and histology of the gastric mucosa. Whereas some physicians remain skeptical of C. pylori's pathogenic role, those who have studied the new organism believe it is a major gastrointestinal pathogen and see the possibility of curative therapy for what is now called 'acid peptic disease'.