Pediatric Crohn Disease Presenting as Isolated Acute Upper-GI Bleed: A Case Report

BACKGROUND The incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) has increased worldwide. Although common presenting symptoms of CD in children include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding, it can also present atypically and can have extraintestinal manifestations. Isolated upper-gastrointestinal bleed as the only manifestation of CD with ileocolonic involvement is rare. CASE REPORT We describe the case of a previously healthy, 9-year-old boy who presented to the emergency department (ED) with isolated, acute-onset hematemesis. He was evaluated in the ED, and found to be hemodynamically stable, and hematemesis had resolved upon arrival to the ED. Therefore, he was placed on a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), and discharged with a close gastrointestinal clinic follow-up, which he missed. He returned to the ED 3 weeks later with another episode of hematemesis with hemodynamic instability requiring resuscitation and intensive care unit stay. He underwent an emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), which revealed a bleeding gastric ulcer in the fundus. Bleeding was controlled with epinephrine injection and application of hemostatic clips. Gastric biopsies revealed granulomas. Therefore, during his hospitalization, ileocolonoscopy was completed to rule out CD. Ileocolonoscopy showed left colonic edema with ulcers and terminal ileal ulcers with exudates. Histopathology revealed granulomas in these areas. Infliximab infusions were started during the hospitalization. He is currently receiving 10 mg/kg of infliximab every 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the need for increased clinician awareness of atypical presentations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and maintenance of a high index of suspicion when treating children and adolescents with acute GI bleed.