Response to Mesalamine Therapy in Pediatric Collagenous Gastritis and Colitis: A Case Report and Review

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pediatric Pathology
• Rare Diseases

Background:

• Collagenous gastritis (CG) and collagenous colitis (CC) are rare gastrointestinal disorders affecting children.
• These conditions are exceptionally uncommon when occurring concurrently in pediatric patients.
• The unknown etiology and rarity of CG and CC highlight the absence of standardized treatment protocols and objective biomarkers.

Observation:

• This report details a 16-year-old female diagnosed with both collagenous gastritis and collagenous colitis.
• The patient presented with a rare combination of these two distinct gastrointestinal conditions.
• Clinical progression was monitored using serum calprotectin levels.

Findings:

• The patient exhibited a positive response to mesalamine therapy.
• A notable decrease in calprotectin levels was observed following the initiation of mesalamine treatment.
• This suggests mesalamine's potential efficacy in managing combined CG and CC.

Implications:

• This case suggests mesalamine as a potential therapeutic option for pediatric patients with co-occurring CG and CC.
• Decreasing calprotectin levels may serve as a useful biomarker for treatment response in these rare conditions.
• Further research is warranted to explore standardized treatment protocols for these rare pediatric gastrointestinal disorders.