Piscaglia AC, Laterza L, Cesario V, Gerardi V, Landi R, Lopetuso LR, Calò G, Fabbretti G, Brisigotti M, Stefanelli ML, Gasbarrini A. Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia: A marker of low-grade inflammation in irritable bowel syndrome?
World J Gastroenterol 2016;
22:10198-10209. [PMID:
28028368 PMCID:
PMC5155179 DOI:
10.3748/wjg.v22.i46.10198]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2016] [Revised: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM
To evaluate the prevalence of nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLH) in adult patients undergoing colonoscopy and its association with known diseases.
METHODS
We selected all cases showing NLH at colonoscopy in a three-year timeframe, and stratified them into symptomatic patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-type symptoms or suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and asymptomatic individuals undergoing endoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. Data collection included medical history and final diagnosis. As controls, we considered all colonoscopies performed for the aforementioned indications during the same period.
RESULTS
One thousand and one hundred fifty colonoscopies were selected. NLH was rare in asymptomatic individuals (only 3%), while it was significantly more prevalent in symptomatic cases (32%). Among organic conditions associated with NLH, the most frequent was IBD, followed by infections and diverticular disease. Interestingly, 31% of IBS patients presented diffuse colonic NLH. NLH cases shared some distinctive clinical features among IBS patients: they were younger, more often female, and had a higher frequency of abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea, unspecific inflammation, self-reported lactose intolerance and metal contact dermatitis.
CONCLUSION
About 1/3 of patients with IBS-type symptoms or suspected IBD presented diffuse colonic NLH, which could be a marker of low-grade inflammation in a conspicuous subset of IBS patients.
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