Colitis in chronic granulomatous disease.
BACKGROUND
Involvement of the gut in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) has been previously described and colitis highlighted. However, the nature and histopathology of the colitis are unclear and have been thought to be non-specific or similar to Crohn's disease.


METHODS
Seven patients with CGD, suffering from gastrointestinal symptoms were prospectively studied.


RESULTS
All patients had anaemia; other symptoms were failure to thrive (5/7) and diarrhoea (5/7). Most had microcytic anaemia (5/7), increased platelets (7/7), and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (6/6). Endoscopically there was a friable erythematous mucosa in 6/7. The histological features present in all patients consisted of a colitis with paucity of neutrophils, increased numbers of eosinophils, eosinophilic crypt abscesses, pigmented macrophages, and nuclear debris. In some granulomas were present (2/7).


CONCLUSIONS
Colitis is a common cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in CGD and is caused by a non-infective inflammatory process. The histology has specific features, which are distinctive from those seen in Crohn's disease.
Schäppi
M G
MG
Department of Gastroenterology, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
Smith
V V
VV
Goldblatt
D
D
Lindley
K J
KJ
Milla
P J
PJ
D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006105:Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents