Marcadores de inflamación y desarrollo de tolerancia en la proctocolitis alérgica / Markers of inflammation and tolerance development in allergic proctocolitis

Antecedentes: Con el incremento de la proctocolitis alérgica inducida por proteínas de la dieta (PAIPD), son necesarios estudios que aclaren su fisiopatología y determinar marcadores no invasivos y sencillos para el diagnóstico y la evaluación del desarrollo de tolerancia. No hallamos estudios publicados sobre la función del índice de neutrófilos/linfocitos (INL) y el volumen plaquetario medio (VPM), que son marcadores no invasivos fácilmente medibles, en pacientes con PAIPD. Objetivos: Determinar la relación entre el INL y el VPM con el diagnóstico y desarrollo de tolerancia en niños con PAIPD. Métodos: Estudio transversal retrospectivo, los datos se obtuvieron del sistema de registros médicos, los síntomas y los resultados de laboratorio de los pacientes con diagnóstico de PAIPD fueron controlados en los consultorios de alergia y gastroenterología. Se compararon valores del hemograma al momento del diagnóstico con el grupo de niños sanos de edad y sexo similares. Resultados: Entre los 59 pacientes con diagnóstico de PAIPD, los varones representaron el 47,4% y las niñas, el 52,6%. El VPM y el volumen plaquetario relativo (VPR) eran significativamente más altos entre los pacientes con PAIPD en comparación con el grupo de referencia (n: 67) (p < 0,001). Asimismo, VPM y el VPR fueron significativamente elevados en pacientes que no desarrollaron tolerancia comparados con los que la desarrollaron (p= 0,01). Con el INL no hubo diferencias entre los grupos. Conclusiones: El VPM y el VPR se consideraron marcadores adecuados para predecir el pronóstico de los pacientes con PAIPD dado que son rápidos, costo-efectivos y fáciles de medir.

Background. Today, as a result of an increase in the frequency of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP), there is a need for studies not only to enlighten the pathophysiology of the disease but also to determine simple, non-invasive markers in both diagnosis, and evaluation of the development of tolerance. No study has been found in the literature about the place of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV), which are easy to calculate and non-invasive markers. Objectives. The purpose is to determine the relation between NLR and MPV with the diagnosis and development of tolerance in children with FPIAP. Methods. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, clinical, demographic symptoms and laboratory findings of patients, monitored with FPIAP diagnosis in allergy and gastroenterology clinics, were acquired from the patient record system. Hemogram values at the time of diagnosis were compared with the values of healthy children of the same age and gender. Results. Among 59 patients diagnosed with FPIAP, males constitute 47.4% and females constitute 52.6%. MPV and platelet crit (PCT) values were significantly high when compared to the control group (n: 67) in FPIAP cases (p <0.001). Also, MPV and PCT values were significantly high in non-tolerance developing cases when compared to developing ones (p= 0.01). Conclusions. Contrary to NLR, MPV and PCT values have been considered to be good markers in predicting prognosis in cases with FPIAP since they are quick, cost effective and easy to calculate.

Deposiciones sanguinolentas iniciadas en los primeros días de vida / Bloody stools started in the first days of life

La proctocolitis alérgica del lactante es un trastorno caracterizado por la presencia de deposiciones mucosanguinolentas en los dos primeros meses de vida, pudiendo aparecer en los primeros días de vida. Anteriormente, relacionado con niños alimentados con lactancia artificial, en los últimos años se observa un aumento de la incidencia en niños alimentados con lactancia materna exclusiva debido al paso de proteínas de leche de vaca a la leche de la madre. Recién nacido a término, alimentado con lactancia materna exclusiva inicia a los dos días de vida deposiciones con hebras de sangre de forma intermitente. Todos los estudios realizados resultan normales. La clínica mejora progresivamente tras la eliminación de las proteínas de leche de vaca de la dieta de la madre, por lo que se diagnostica de proctocolitis alérgica. El diagnóstico se basa en la clínica, la desaparición de los síntomas al retirar las proteínas de leche de vaca de la dieta, y en la reaparición de éstos al reintroducirla. Los niños mantienen buen estado general en todo momento, siendo la gran mayoría tolerantes a la leche de vaca al año de vida, por lo que se considera una patología de buen pronóstico.

Allergic colitis is a pathology characterized by blood in faeces, appeared in first two months of life, but it can also appear during the first days of life. Previously it was related with children with non breastfeeding, however in the last years incidence is increasing in children with breastfeeding. This is explained with the presence of cow’s milk proteins in human’s milk. Newborn term, fed with exclusive breastfeeding, starts at second day of life blood in faeces, intermittently. The studies done are normal. The symptoms improve progressively after removing the cow’s milk proteins of the mother’s diet, so the child is diagnosed with allergic protocolitis. Diagnosis is based on the symptoms, the improvement with the removal of the cow’s milk protein of the diet, and the worsening when they are reintroduced. The children conserve good general condition every moment, almost all of them tolerate cow’s milk when they are one year old, and so it is considered pathology of well prognosis.

Alergia ao leite de vaca: achados do ultrassom com Doppler colorido em neonatos com hematoquezia / Cow's milk allergy: color Doppler ultrasound findings in infants with hematochezia

OBJETIVO: o ultrassom (US) tem sido uma importante ferramenta de diagnóstico para identificar várias causas de hemorragia gastrointestinal. Neonatos com alergia ao leite de vaca (ALV) podem apresentar hematoquezia, e a confirmação do diagnóstico pode ser difícil. O objetivo deste estudo é descrever achados com ultrassom em escala de cinza e com Doppler colorido em pacientes com ALV. MÉTODOS: estudamos, retrospectivamente, 13 neonatos com ALV. Todos eles apresentaram hematoquezia severa e dor abdominal e foram submetidos a um estudo com US, com o diagnóstico de colite alérgica. O diagnóstico teve como base os achados clínicos, a recuperação após a dieta de exclusão do neonato ou da mãe, no caso de amamentação exclusiva, e o teste de provocação oral positivo. RESULTADOS: a idade média variou de um a seis meses (média = 3,53). Sete dos 13 neonatos (53,8%) passaram novamente por ultrassonografia em escala de cinza e com Doppler colorido após a dieta de exclusão. Dentre eles, 12 dos 13 (92,3%) mostraram anormalidades no US e no ultrassom com Doppler colorido (USDC) no início. Os achados positivos que sugeriram colite foram paredes intestinais espessas e aumento na vascularização, principalmente no cólon descendente e sigmoide. Os resultados da colonoscopia e histopatológicos foram compatíveis com colite alérgica. Após uma mudança na dieta, os 13 neonatos se recuperaram e seus testes de provocação oral foram positivos. CONCLUSÃO: o US com Doppler pode ser muito útil para diagnosticar a colite secundária, como a ALV, e para excluir várias outras doenças abdominais que podem imitar essa doença.

OBJECTIVE: ultrasound (US) has been an important diagnostic tool to identify several causes of gastrointestinal bleeding. Infants with cow's milk allergy (CMA) may present hematochezia and the confirmation of the diagnosis can be difficult. The aim of this study is to describe grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound findings in patients with CMA. METHODS: we retrospectively studied 13 infants with CMA. All infants presented severe hematochezia and abdominal pain. All underwent an US study with the diagnosis of allergic colitis. This diagnosis was based on clinical findings, recovery after infant or mother exclusion diets in the case of exclusive breastfeeding and positive oral challenge test. RESULTS: the mean age ranged from 1 to 6 months (mean = 3.53). Seven out of 13 infants (53.8%) had grayscale and color Doppler sonographic repeated after exclusion diet. Twelve out of 13 (92,3%) showed abnormalities at US and CDUS at beginning. The positive findings suggesting colitis were thickened bowel walls and increased vascularity, especially in the descending and sigmoid colon. Colonoscopy and histopathological findings were compatible with allergic colitis. After a diet change the 13 infants recovered and their oral challenge tests were positive. CONCLUSION: Doppler US may be very useful in diagnosing secondary colitis, such as CMA, and to exclude several other abdominal diseases that can emulate this disease.