Lymphocytic leiomyositis and myenteric ganglionitis are intrinsic features of cystic fibrosis: studies in distal intestinal obstruction syndrome and meconium ileus

Abdominal Symptoms Assessed With the CFAbd-Score are Associated With Intestinal Inflammation in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis

OBJECTIVES

This prospective study evaluated the relationship between fecal markers of intestinal inflammation and cystic fibrosis (CF)-associated abdominal symptoms. These were assessed using the CFAbd-Score, a CF-specific patient-related outcome measure developed and validated, following FDA guidelines.

METHODS

In feces from patients with CF (n = 41) and healthy volunteers (n = 27), concentrations of fecal calprotectin (FC), M2-pyruvate kinase (M2-PK), interleukins IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and neutrophilic elastase (NE) were measured. Abdominal symptoms during the 2 preceding weeks were recorded using the CFAbd-Score. This patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for assessment of the multi-organic abdominal involvement in CF includes 28 items in five domains.

RESULTS

Inflammatory parameters FC, IL-1β, M2-PK, and NE in feces, as well as CFAbd-Scores resulted significantly higher in CF patients than in healthy controls (all P < 0.01). Furthermore, significant differences between both groups were found for pain-symptoms, disorders of bowel movement, impaired quality of life, as well as disorders of eating and appetite. With 83% sensitivity and 74% specificity, FC was the most reliable measure for CF-related intestinal inflammation, which, in the CFAbd-Score, was associated to significantly higher rates of abdominal pain, as well as to general quality of life items such as gastrointestinal-related impaired sleep and frustration.

CONCLUSION

Using the CFAbd-Score as a CF-specific PROM for identification and quantification of abdominal symptoms revealed that abdominal pain and impaired quality of life are associated with intestinal inflammation in CF.

Proximal intestinal obstruction syndrome (PIOS) in a patient with cystic fibrosis: A case report

Introduction

Distal Intestinal Obstruction Syndrome is a rare complication in patients with cystic fibrosis, which characterized by the accumulation of viscid fecal material, combined with sticky mucous secretions located in the distal ileum adhere to the intestinal wall, causing complete bowel obstruction.

Presentation of case

We report a case of a 45 years old patient with cystic fibrosis, who presented bowel obstruction secondary to accumulation of fecal material, combined with mucous secretions, in the mid-jejunum. A diagnostic laparoscopy was performed where a dilated jejunum was encountered with impaction of fecal content. Surgery was converted to open surgery, where a longitudinal enterotomy of 5 cm after the transition zone was created, evacuating manually the fecal material with mucous secretion. The patient evolved favorably, without complications.

Discussion

We present a case of a patient with cystic fibrosis presenting with bowel obstruction due to a proximal intestinal obstruction syndrome, which can be diagnosed with the DIOS definition, with the only distinction of a more proximal location in the gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach, the duodenum, or the jejunum.

Conclusion

It is important for the clinician to know the existence of this syndrome at its different locations in the small bowel to treat accordingly.

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Proximal Intestinal Obstruction Syndrome is a rare complication in patients with cystic fibrosis.

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It is the accumulation of viscid feces with mucous secretions in the small bowel.

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It is important to know the existence of this syndrome to treat accordingly.

The management of adult patients with severe chronic small intestinal dysmotility

Adult patients with severe chronic small intestinal dysmotility are not uncommon and can be difficult to manage. This guideline gives an outline of how to make the diagnosis. It discusses factors which contribute to or cause a picture of severe chronic intestinal dysmotility (eg, obstruction, functional gastrointestinal disorders, drugs, psychosocial issues and malnutrition). It gives management guidelines for patients with an enteric myopathy or neuropathy including the use of enteral and parenteral nutrition.

Motor dysfunction of the gut in cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator is extensively expressed in the intestine and has an important role in the regulation of the viscosity and pH of gut secretions. Several studies have reported a delay in small bowel and colonic transit times in patients with CF which have been attributed to the secretory dysfunction. Our aim was to determine whether intestinal contractility is affected in these patients.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with CF referred to our institution between 2014 and 2017 (n = 16) were prospectively investigated using automated non-invasive techniques for morpho-functional evaluation of the gut developed in our laboratory. On separate days, intraluminal images of the gut were obtained by capsule endoscopy and external images by abdominal MRI. Analysis of images (endoluminal and external) was performed with original, previously validated programs based on computer vision and machine learning techniques and compared with age- and sex-matched controls.

KEY RESULTS

Patients with CF exhibited important reduction in contractile activity and increased retention of static turbid luminal content in the small bowel by endoluminal image analysis. Morpho-volumetric analysis of MRI images found increased ileo-colonic volumes in CF. Significant correlations between abnormalities detected by intraluminal and external imaging techniques were found. The presence and severity of digestive symptoms were not related to abnormal gut function.

CONCLUSION AND INFERENCES

Impaired transit and pooling of gut contents in patients with CF is associated with impaired intestinal motility.

Proximal small bowel obstruction in a patient with cystic fibrosis: a case report

Background

As advancements are made in the management of cystic fibrosis (CF), survival of the CF patient into adulthood has increased, leading to the discovery of previously unknown CF complications. Though gastrointestinal complications of CF, such as distal intestinal obstruction syndrome, are common, this case demonstrates a variant presentation of small bowel obstruction in this population.

Case presentation

We describe a 42-year-old male with CF who presented with 2 days of worsening upper abdominal pain, emesis, and loss of bowel function. The patient had no history of any prior abdominal surgeries; however, imaging was concerning for high-grade mechanical small bowel obstruction possibly related to internal hernia. Given leukocytosis and diffusely tender abdomen found on further workup, the decision was made to proceed with diagnostic laparoscopy after a brief period of intravenous fluid resuscitation. Intraoperatively, the transition point was found in the mid-jejunum and was noted to be due to kinking of the bowel causing vascular congestion in the proximal portion. Surgical manipulation of the bowel was required for return of normal perfusion and patency.

Conclusion

Though the exact mechanism cannot be definitively delineated, we speculate that the increased viscosity and prolonged intestinal transit time, characteristic of CF, resulted in inspissated fecal content in the proximal small bowel, which then acted as a lead point for obstruction. Thus, though small bowel obstruction in patients with CF is often attributed to distal intestinal obstruction syndrome, a broader differential must be considered. Early surgical intervention may be necessary to prevent bowel ischemia and subsequent small bowel resection in a patient presenting with concerning clinical and image findings, as was seen in this patient.

Myenteric ganglionitis and intestinal leiomyositis in a Jack Russell terrier

A 9-year, 6-month old spayed female Jack Russell terrier presented with a 3-week history of intermittent vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss. Serum biochemistry demonstrated severe panhypoproteinaemia, mild hypocalcaemia and mild hypocholesterolaemia, consistent with protein-losing enteropathy. Full-thickness biopsies obtained from the stomach and different sections of small intestine demonstrated histological features of both myenteric ganglionitis and early intestinal leiomyositis. Complete resolution of clinical signs occurred within 1 week of implementing immunosuppressive therapy. At the time of writing, 9 months following diagnosis, the dog remains in remission.

The Enigmatic Gut in Cystic Fibrosis: Linking Inflammation, Dysbiosis, and the Increased Risk of Malignancy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Intestinal inflammation, dysbiosis, and increased gastrointestinal malignancy risks are well-described in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, there is limited understanding of their pathophysiology. This review aims to discuss these issues and assess potential links between them.

RECENT FINDINGS

Evidence of links between intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis (an imbalance in intestinal microbial populations) exist. Recent studies have demonstrated reduction in intestinal inflammation with probiotic administration. Both bacterial dysbiosis and gut inflammation contribute to the suboptimal nutritional status seen in children with CF. Short-chain fatty acids may be reduced in the gut lumen as a result of bacterial imbalances and may promote inflammation. Inflammation and bacterial dysbiosis in CF may also contribute to emerging adult complications such as gastrointestinal malignancy. An increase in carcinogenic microbes and reduction in microbes protective against cancer have been found in CF, linking bacterial dysbiosis and cancer. Murine studies suggest the CF gene, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, itself may be a tumour suppressor gene. The pathophysiology of interactions among intestinal inflammation, dysbiosis, and malignancy in CF is not clearly understood and requires further research.

Expression of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator in Ganglia of Human Gastrointestinal Tract

CF is caused by mutations of the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) which is an anion selective transmembrane ion channel that mainly regulates chloride transport, expressed in the epithelia of various organs. Recently, we have demonstrated CFTR expression in the brain, the spinal cord and the sympathetic ganglia. This study aims to investigate the expression and distribution of CFTR in the ganglia of the human gastrointestinal tract. Fresh tissue and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded normal gastrointestinal tract samples were collected from eleven surgical patients and five autopsy cases. Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, laser-assisted microdissection and nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were performed. Expression of CFTR protein and mRNA was detected in neurons of the ganglia of all segments of the human gastrointestinal tract examined, including the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, appendix, colon and rectum. The extensive expression of CFTR in the enteric ganglia suggests that CFTR may play a role in the physiology of the innervation of the gastro-intestinal tract. The presence of dysfunctional CFTRs in enteric ganglia could, to a certain extent, explain the gastrointestinal symptoms frequently experienced by CF patients.

Cystic fibrosis from the gastroenterologist's perspective

Cystic fibrosis is a life-limiting, recessive disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Increased survival outcomes and the multisystem nature of the disease, including the involvement of hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal tracts, now require the need for more extensive knowledge and expertise in cystic fibrosis among gastroenterologists. Manifestations are either a direct consequence of the primary defect in cystic fibrosis or a secondary complication of the disease or therapy. Adult patients with cystic fibrosis also have an increased risk of malignancy in the gastrointestinal and pancreatico-biliary tracts compared with the general population. Novel treatments that target the basic defects in the CFTR protein have emerged, but to date not much is known about their effects on the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary systems. The introduction of such therapies has provided new opportunities for the application of intestinal endpoints in clinical trials and the understanding of underlying disease mechanisms that affect the gut in cystic fibrosis.

CFTR Knockdown induces proinflammatory changes in intestinal epithelial cells

Background

Hyperinflammation is a hallmark feature of cystic fibrosis (CF) airways. However, inflammation has also been documented systemically and, more recently, in extrapulmonary CF-affected tissues such as the pancreas and intestine. The pathogenesis of CF-related inflammation and more specifically the role of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in that respect are not entirely understood. We have tested the hypothesis that genetic depletion of CFTR will affect the inflammatory status of human intestinal epithelial cell lines.

Methods

CFTR expression was genetically depleted from Caco-2/15 and HT-29 cells using short hairpin RNA interference (shRNAi). Inflammatory conditions were induced by the addition of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) for various periods of time. Gene expression, mRNA stability and secreted levels of interleukin (IL)-6, −8 and 10 were assessed. Analysis of pro- and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways including mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38, ERK 1/2 and JNK), nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor alpha (IκBα), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was also performed. Eosinophils were counted in the jejunal mucosa of Cftr−/− and Cftr+/+ mice.

Results

CFTR gene and protein knockdown caused a significant increase in basal secretion of IL-8 as well as in IL-1β-induced secretion of IL-6 and −8. Release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, remained unaffected by CFTR depletion. The enhanced secretion of IL-8 stems in part from increased IL8 mRNA levels and greater activation of ERK1/2 MAPK, IκBα and NF-κB in the CFTR knockdown cells. By contrast, phosphorylation levels of p38 and JNK MAPK did not differ between control and knockdown cells. We also found a higher number of infiltrating eosinophils in the jejunal mucosa of Cftr −/− females, but not males, compared to Cftr +/+ mice, thus providing in vivo support to our in vitro findings.

Conclusion

Collectively, these data underscore the role played by CFTR in regulating the intestinal inflammatory responses. Such findings lend support to the theory that CFTR exerts functions that may go beyond its role as a chloride channel whereby its disruption may prevent cells to optimally respond to exogenous or endogenous challenges. These observations are of particular interest to CF patients who were found to display alterations in their intestinal microbiota, thus predisposing them to pathogens that may elicit exaggerated inflammatory responses.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12950-015-0107-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The role of endoscopy and biopsy in the management of severe gastrointestinal disease in cystic fibrosis patients

There is increasing evidence to suggest the presence of chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Some CF patients continue to have very severe gastrointestinal symptoms despite conventional CF treatment. In our center, these patients are managed in a CF gastroenterology clinic, jointly with a pediatric gastroenterologist. A number have required GI endoscopy and biopsy. The aim of our study was to characterize these patients and determine whether endoscopy and biopsy changed their management. We reviewed all the patients seen in the CF gastroenterology clinic from 2004 to 2009, who had GI endoscopies performed. The GI symptoms these patients were experiencing included abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, rectal bleeding, failure to thrive, loose stools, and constipation. Twelve patients had GI endoscopies with mucosal biopsies performed. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] age at referral to the CF gastroenterology clinic was 4 years [0.9-8]. Their body mass index (BMI) was 15.2 [13.7-15.5]. Twenty-five percent were homozygous delta F508. Two patients had previously had meconium ileus as neonates requiring surgical intervention. One other patient had needed abdominal surgery for intussusception. Ninty-two percent were pancreatic insufficient, 25% were chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 17% were on regularly 3 monthly intravenous antibiotics. Of the 10 patients who were able to perform spirometry, FEV1 was 101% [67-125] predicted. Nine of the 12 patients had evidence of mucosal inflammation in their biopsies, including duodenitis with eosinophilic infiltrate, chronic non-specific inactive gastritis, enteropathy with partial villous atrophy, and non-specific colitis. Immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory therapies were commenced in these nine patients, including prednisolone, azathioprine, methotrexate, ketotifen, mesalazine, and sulfasalazine as well as the use of parenteral nutrition and elemental feeds. All the patients clinically responded to therapy. Five of the patients commenced on anti-inflammatory therapy had repeat biopsies 1-5 years following commencement of treatment and all showed histological improvement of the mucosal inflammation. GI endoscopy with mucosal biopsy has a significant role to play in the management of CF children with severe GI disease. In our study, it influenced the management in the majority of patients with severe GI symptoms. Furthermore, if GI mucosal inflammation is identified on biopsy, management with immunomodulatory agents may be clinically beneficial.

Intestinal obstruction syndromes in cystic fibrosis: meconium ileus, distal intestinal obstruction syndrome, and constipation

Meconium ileus at birth, distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), and constipation are an interrelated group of intestinal obstruction syndromes with a variable severity of obstruction that occurs in cystic fibrosis patients. Long-term follow-up studies show that today meconium ileus is not a risk factor for impaired nutritional status, pulmonary function, or survival. DIOS and constipation are frequently seen in cystic fibrosis patients, especially later in life; genetic, dietary, and other associations have been explored. Diagnosis of DIOS is based on suggestive symptoms, with a right lower quadrant mass confirmed on abdominal radiography, whereas symptoms of constipation are milder and of longer standing. In DIOS, early aggressive laxative treatment with oral laxatives (polyethylene glycol) or intestinal lavage with balanced osmotic electrolyte solution and rehydration is required, which now makes the need for surgical interventions rare. Constipation can generally be well controlled with polyethylene glycol maintenance treatment.

Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of distal intestinal obstruction syndrome in cystic fibrosis patients

Complete or incomplete intestinal obstruction by viscid faecal material in the terminal ileum and proximal colon - distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS) - is a common complication in cystic fibrosis. Estimates of prevalence range from 5 to 12 episodes per 1000 patients per year in children, with higher rates reported in adults. DIOS is mainly seen in patients with pancreatic insufficiency, positive history of meconium ileus and previous episodes of DIOS. DIOS is being described with increasing frequency following organ transplantation. Diagnosis is based on suggestive symptoms with a right lower quadrant mass confirmed on X-ray. The main differential is chronic constipation. Treatment consists of rehydration combined with stool softening laxatives or gut lavage with balanced electrolyte solutions. Rapid fluid shifts have been described following osmotic agents. Avoiding dehydration and optimizing pancreatic enzyme dosage may reduce the chance of further episodes. Prophylactic laxative therapy is widely used, but is not evidence-based.

Pathology of Intestinal Motor Disorders in Children

Varied intestinal neuromuscular pathologies are responsible for Hirschsprung disease and other forms of chronic pseudo-obstruction that are encountered in pediatrics. Pathologically distinct subtypes discussed in this review include aganglionosis, hypoganglionosis, neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease, ganglionitis, degenerative neuropathy, diffuse ganglioneuromatosis, neuronal dysplasia, malformations of the muscularis propria, degenerative leiomyopathy, leiomyositis, and mitochondriopathies. Emphasis is given to the histopathologic features that distinguish these conditions and their differential diagnoses.

Gastrointestinal neuromuscular pathology: guidelines for histological techniques and reporting on behalf of the Gastro 2009 International Working Group

The term gastrointestinal neuromuscular disease describes a clinically heterogeneous group of disorders of children and adults in which symptoms are presumed or proven to arise as a result of neuromuscular, including interstitial cell of Cajal, dysfunction. Such disorders commonly have impaired motor activity, i.e. slowed or obstructed transit with radiological evidence of transient or persistent visceral dilatation. Whilst sensorimotor abnormalities have been demonstrated by a variety of methods in these conditions, standards for histopathological reporting remain relatively neglected. Significant differences in methodologies and expertise continue to confound the reliable delineation of normality and specificity of particular pathological changes for disease. Such issues require urgent clarification to standardize acquisition and handling of tissue specimens, interpretation of findings and make informed decisions on risk-benefit of full-thickness tissue biopsy of bowel or other diagnostic procedures. Such information will also allow increased certainty of diagnosis, facilitating factual discussion between patients and caregivers, as well as giving prognostic and therapeutic information. The following report, produced by an international working group, using established consensus methodology, presents proposed guidelines on histological techniques and reporting for adult and paediatric gastrointestinal neuromuscular pathology. The report addresses the main areas of histopathological practice as confronted by the pathologist, including suction rectal biopsy and full-thickness tissue obtained with diagnostic or therapeutic intent. For each, indications, safe acquisition of tissue, histological techniques, reporting and referral recommendations are presented.