The Importance of Esophagography in Patients With Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

Our experience of using Losartan for esophageal stenosis in children with dystrophic form of congenital epidermolysis bullosa

INTRODUCTION

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) is one of the most severe forms of congenital epidermolysis bullosa and characterized by the formation of many surgical complications. Esophageal stenosis is a common complication of DEB and occurs in almost 76% of cases. Balloon dilatation (BD) under X-ray control is the main therapeutic technique, however conservative treatment is necessary to prevent restenosis. The use of the drug losartan is promising due to its antifibrotic effect through the suppression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1).

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of losartan in the prevention of restenosis after BD of esophageal stenosis in children with DEB.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 19 children from 2 to 16 years old (mean age 9.2 ± 3.58 years) with DEB and X-ray confirmed esophageal stenosis. All children underwent BD. In the main group 9 children after BD have received losartan, in the control group of 10 children - only standard therapy. The observation period was 12 months.

RESULTS

In the main group, 1 child (11.1%) required repeated dilatation, in the control group - 4 children (40%). Indicators of nutritional deficiency (THINC scale) and the disease severity index (EBDASI) were significantly lower in the group of children treated with losartan. No undesirable actions of the drug were recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study losartan showed its safety, contributed to a decrease in the restenosis frequency and an improvement in the nutritional status of children with DEB after BD. However, further studies are required to confirm its effectiveness.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Dots, lines, contours, and ends: An image-based review of esophageal pathology

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Learning Point #1: Small ulcers on esophagography are usually attributable to herpes esophagitis and drug-induced esophagitis. Although rare, Crohn’s disease may produce small apthoid ulcers. Large ulcers are usually attributable to CMV or HIV esophagitis.

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Learning Point #2: The early findings of candida are plaques that mimic glycogenic acanthosis. When plaques are seen, consider early candida or glycogenic acanthosis. When shaggy esophagus is identified, consider candidiasis.

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Learning Point #3: Varices and varicoid esophageal carcinoma may appear similar on imaging. The presence of obstruction and lack of change with time and position should sway the Radiologist to diagnosing varicoid esophageal carcinoma.

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Learning Point #4: Transverse esophageal lines should suggest the entities of feline esophagus and idiopathic eosinophilic esophagitis.

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Learning Point #5: Esophageal contour abnormalities may suggest extrinsic or intrinsic lesions. Extrinsic lesions include aberrant vessels. Intrinsic lesions include intramural pseudodiverticulosis, gastroesophageal reflux, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer.

Esophageal pathologies encountered on fluoroscopic examination may pose a diagnostic challenge to the interpreting Radiologist. Understanding the varied imaging appearances of esophageal pathology requires a thorough understanding of barium esophagography. This article reviews the various fluoroscopic imaging findings of different esophageal pathologies by describing an approach to image interpretation centered on dots, lines, contours, and ends. By utilizing this approach, the Radiologist will be better positioned to reconcile seemingly disparate pathologies into a cogent and succinct differential diagnosis.

A systematic literature review of the disease burden in patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a genetic collagen disorder characterized by skin fragility leading to blistering, wounds, and scarring. There are currently no approved curative therapies. The objective of this manuscript is to provide a comprehensive literature review of the disease burden caused by RDEB.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted in MEDLINE and Embase in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Observational and interventional studies on the economic, clinical, or humanistic burden of RDEB were included.

RESULTS

Sixty-five studies were included in the review. Patients had considerable wound burden, with 60% reporting wounds covering more than 30% of their body. Increases in pain and itch were seen with larger wound size. Chronic wounds were larger and more painful than recurrent wounds. Commonly reported symptoms and complications included lesions and blistering, anemia, nail dystrophy and loss, milia, infections, musculoskeletal contractures, strictures or stenoses, constipation, malnutrition/nutritional problems, pseudosyndactyly, ocular manifestations, and dental caries. Many patients underwent esophageal dilation (29-74%; median dilations, 2-6) and gastrostomy tube placement (8-58%). In the severely affected population, risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was 76% and mortality from SCC reached 84% by age 40. Patients with RDEB experienced worsened quality of life (QOL), decreased functioning and social activities, and increased pain and itch when compared to other EB subtypes, other skin diseases, and the general population. Families of patients reported experiencing high rates of burden including financial burden (50-54%) and negative impact on private life (79%). Direct medical costs were high, though reported in few studies; annual payer-borne total medical costs in Ireland were $84,534 and annual patient-borne medical costs in Korea were $7392. Estimated annual US costs for wound dressings ranged from $4000 to $245,000. Patients spent considerable time changing dressings: often daily (13-54% of patients) with up to three hours per change (15-40%).

CONCLUSION

Patients with RDEB and their families/caregivers experience significant economic, humanistic, and clinical burden. Further research is needed to better understand the costs of disease, how the burden of disease changes over the patient lifetime and to better characterize QOL impact, and how RDEB compares with other chronic, debilitating disorders.

Idiopathic Cervical Esophageal Webs: A Case Report and Literature Review

An esophageal web is a thin and smooth extension of normal esophageal tissue consisting of mucosa and submucosa that can occur anywhere along the length of the esophagus but is typically located in the cervical segment. The webs can be congenital or acquired, commonly associated with Plummer-Vinson syndrome and rarely with celiac disease, dermatological disorders or graft-versus-host disease. A 54-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a history of high non-progressive dysphagia to solid food, meat impaction and weight loss over last ten months. His medical history and family history were unremarkable nor was the physical examination. Complete blood count and basic biochemical tests were normal. Antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies for celiac disease were negative. Barium swallow esophagography and upper endoscopy detected cervical esophageal webs. The treatment consisted of endoscopic balloon dilation. The patient's dysphagia resolved shortly after dilation, and the endoscope passed easily through the esophagus showing normal esophageal, gastric and duodenal mucosa. This report is consistent with a case of esophageal webs rarely documented in males and that is not related with common causes like Plummer-Vinson syndrome. Thus, the pathogenesis and treatment of esophageal webs are evolving.

Clinical, Imaging, and Pathologic Features of Conditions with Combined Esophageal and Cutaneous Manifestations

A variety of clinically significant conditions can affect both the esophagus and the skin. Esophageal and cutaneous manifestations may directly reflect the underlying disease process, as in infections such as herpes simplex virus, bullous diseases such as epidermolysis bullosa and mucous membrane pemphigoid, connective tissue diseases such as systemic sclerosis, and inflammatory diseases such as lichen planus. Alternatively, esophageal and cutaneous findings may result from conditions that are closely associated with and potentially pathognomonic for but distinct from the underlying disease process, as in genetic diseases such as Cowden syndrome or paraneoplastic syndromes such as acrokeratosis paraneoplastica. Other diseases such as Crohn disease may have cutaneous manifestations that directly reflect the same underlying inflammatory process that affects the gastrointestinal tract or cutaneous manifestations that represent reactive or associated conditions distinct from the underlying inflammatory process. The cutaneous manifestations of disease may precede, coincide with, or follow the esophageal manifestations of disease. The authors present the characteristic clinical features and imaging findings associated with common and uncommon conditions that have esophageal and cutaneous manifestations. Each condition is presented with a brief overview, discussion of salient clinical and cutaneous manifestations, and description of the typical esophageal imaging findings, with particular attention to implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Recognition of potential associations between cutaneous lesions and esophageal imaging findings is important for establishing a specific diagnosis or generating a meaningful differential diagnosis.