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Enterocolitis in children with developmental disorders
A J Wakefield1, A Anthony, S H Murch
1University Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
Insights
Children with developmental disorders often show intestinal pathology, including lymphoid nodular hyperplasia (LNH) and inflammation. This study suggests a new variant of inflammatory bowel disease in these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Gastrointestinal Pathology
Background:
- Intestinal pathology, such as ileocolonic lymphoid nodular hyperplasia (LNH) and mucosal inflammation, is observed in children with developmental disorders.
- These gastrointestinal symptoms are often associated with behavioral regression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the endoscopic and pathological characteristics of the intestine in children with developmental disorders and bowel symptoms.
- To compare these findings with pediatric controls.
Main Methods:
- Ileocolonoscopy and biopsy were performed on 60 children with developmental disorders (autism, Asperger's syndrome, etc.) and 37 age-matched controls.
- Ileal LNH severity was graded, and tissue sections were reviewed by pathologists.
- Data were compared with controls and children with ulcerative colitis (UC).
Main Results:
- Ileal LNH was found in 93% of affected children versus 14.3% of controls (p < 0.001).
- Chronic colitis was identified in 88% of affected children compared to 4.5% of controls (p < 0.001).
- Inflammation severity scores were significantly higher in affected children and those with UC than in controls.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a distinct form of inflammatory bowel disease in children with developmental disorders.
- This variant exhibits significant ileal LNH and chronic colitis.
Objective:
Intestinal pathology, i.e., ileocolonic lymphoid nodular hyperplasia (LNH) and mucosal inflammation, has been described in children with developmental disorders. This study describes some of the endoscopic and pathological characteristics in a group of children with developmental disorders (affected children) that are associated with behavioral regression and bowel symptoms, and compares them with pediatric controls.
Methods:
Ileocolonoscopy and biopsy were performed on 60 affected children (median age 6 yr, range 3-16; 53 male). Developmental diagnoses were autism (50 patients), Asperger's syndrome (five), disintegrative disorder (two), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (one), schizophrenia (one), and dyslexia (one). Severity of ileal LNH was graded (0-3) in both affected children and 37 developmentally normal controls (median age 11 yr, range 2-13 yr) who were investigated for possible inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Tissue sections were reviewed by three pathologists and scored on a standard proforma. Data were compared with ileocolonic biopsies from 22 histologically normal children (controls) and 20 children with ulcerative colitis (UC), scored in an identical manner. Gut pathogens were sought routinely.
Results:
Ileal LNH was present in 54 of 58 (93%) affected children and in five of 35 (14.3%) controls (p < 0.001). Colonic LNH was present in 18 of 60 (30%) affected children and in two of 37 (5.4%) controls (p < 0.01). Histologically, reactive follicular hyperplasia was present in 46 of 52 (88.5%) ileal biopsies from affected children and in four of 14 (29%) with UC, but not in non-IBD controls (p < 0.01). Active ileitis was present in four of 51 (8%) affected children but not in controls. Chronic colitis was identified in 53 of 60 (88%) affected children compared with one of 22 (4.5%) controls and in 20 of 20 (100%) with UC. Scores of frequency and severity of inflammation were significantly greater in both affected children and those with UC, compared with controls (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
A new variant of inflammatory bowel disease is present in this group of children with developmental disorders.