Study of duodenal bacterial communities by 16S rRNA gene analysis in adults with active celiac disease vs non-celiac disease controls

AIMS

Several studies have suggested that abnormalities in the small-intestinal microbiota might be involved in the development or the pathogenesis of celiac disease (CD). The objective of this study was to characterize and compare the composition of the duodenal microbiota between CD patients and non-CD controls.

METHOD AND RESULTS

Bacterial communities were identified by pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA extracted from duodenal biopsies. The sequences analysis showed that the majority of the reads were classified within two phyla: Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Bacterial richness and diversity were higher in non-CD controls than in untreated CD patients, but the differences were not statistically significant. The principal coordinates analysis revealed that bacterial communities of non-CD controls and untreated CD patients were dispersed without forming a clear group according to diagnosis of CD.

CONCLUSIONS

There are no statistically significant differences in the upper small intestinal composition of bacterial communities between untreated CD patients and non-CD controls.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This pyrosequencing analysis reveals a global picture of the duodenal microbiota that could be useful in future trials investigating the role of the microbiota in CD.

[Treatment of presumed tuberculous uveitis affecting the posterior segment: diagnostic confirmation and long term outcomes]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the level of agreement with the presumed diagnosis and long term clinical outcomes after antituberculous therapy (ATT) in a group of patients with presumed tuberculous uveitis (PTU) affecting the posterior segment.

METHODS

Retrospective case series.

RESULTS

A total of 17 patients with chronic refractory or newly diagnosed uveitis affecting the posterior segment were included. All included patients were diagnosed with PTU and received ATT. Median follow-up after ATT was 34 months (range 2-60). Complete control of inflammation was observed in 14/17 patients (82.3%) during the treatment period, and only 4/17 patients (23.5%) had a uveitis relapse over the entire follow-up period after ATT. All patients who had uveitis relapses (4/4), but none from the remaining group (0/13), required immunosuppressive therapy of some kind after ATT. The response to ATT was able to confirm diagnosis of PTU in 14/17 (82.3%) included patients.

CONCLUSION

When a clinical suspicion of PTU affecting the posterior segment exists, ATT may be highly effective for both confirming the diagnosis and resolving the inflammatory process. Thus, ATT may offer additional advantages, such as preventing latent-tuberculosis reactivations due to immunosuppressive therapy, and decreasing the number and/or severity of uveitis relapses in some patients. Prospective, randomized studies including a larger number of patients are required to support these and other potential advantages of ATT in such patients.

Utilidad de los anticuerpos antitransglutaminasa en el diagnóstico de la enfermedad celíaca

BACKGROUND

Anti-transglutaminase antibodies have been proposed as a useful tool in the diagnosis and follow-up of celiac disease.

AIM

To compare anti-transglutaminase antibodies with the classical antibodies used to diagnose celiac disease.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Patients who underwent duodenal biopsy for suspected celiac disease were selected if they had the following serum antibody samples: antiendomysial IgA, anti-transglutaminase IgA, antigliadin IgG, and antigliadin IgA. A diagnostic value of each of these antibodies was established according to the final diagnosis, taking the duodenal biopsy as the reference.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-two patients with duodenal biopsy and serologic markers for celiac disease were selected. Thirty-six patients were children (< 14 years-old) and 86 were adults. A diagnosis of celiac disease was made in 41 patients (26 children and 15 adults). Of the 15 adults, only 2 (13%) presented typical malabsorption syndrome. The sensitivity and specificity of anti-transglutaminase antibodies was 100% and 98% respectively compared with values of 97% and 98% for antiendomysial IgA, 85% and 97% for antigliadin IgA, and 97% and 92% for antigliadin IgG antibodies.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostic value of anti-transglutaminase antibodies is high in celiac disease. These antibodies may be useful as a screening test to select candidates for duodenal biopsy.

Cutaneous infections by papillomavirus, herpes zoster and Candida albicans as the only manifestation of idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia

BACKGROUND

Selective depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes is common in both primary and secondary immunodeficiencies. Idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia (ICL) cases are defined as a persistent CD4+ T lymphocyte count of less than 300x10(6) cells/L and/or less than 20% of the total T-cell count.

METHOD

A 40-year-old woman, with a history of psoriasis and paracetamol allergy, presented with persistent warts of the hands and condylomas of the ano-genitalia. Histological and virological analysis was carried out on genital and cutaneous lesions and peripheral blood.

RESULTS

Serology for HIV-1, HIV-2, Epstein-Barr virus and parvovirus B19 were negative. There was lymphopenia of 10% CD4+ cells, with normal numbers of total leukocytes; there were no other-abnormal immunological findings. DNA analysis of cutaneous lesions revealed HPV-49 and HPV-3 in the hands and HPV-6 in the genital region.

CONCLUSIONS

The cause of the ICL in this patient is unknown. HPV is not known to be an immunosuppressive agent; it remains to be determined whether the HPV-associated lesions are the cause or the result of immunosuppression.