Tacrolimus-associated Diffuse Gastrointestinal Ulcerations and Pathergy: A Case Report.

Tacrolimus is a common immunosuppressive modality with a range of therapeutic applications, including for rheumatologic disease, nephrotic syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. The medication also plays an integral role in organ transplantation. However, tacrolimus has a significant side effect profile, which commonly includes nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, infection risk, and anemia. We describe an unusual case of tacrolimus toxicity in a cardiac transplant patient, manifesting as diffuse gastrointestinal ulcerations and pathergy. Our goal was to further characterize the toxicity of tacrolimus to include this rare presentation.

Redefining the role of lymphocytes in gastroesophageal reflux disease and eosinophilic esophagitis.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and reflux esophagitis (RE) overlap clinically and histologically. RE is characterized by epithelial infiltration with small numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils, EoE by a prominent eosinophilic infiltrate. Lymphocytic esophagitis (LE), a new entity characterized by peripapillary lymphocytosis, questions the role lymphocytes play in esophageal inflammation. We test the hypothesis that lymphocyte infiltration in RE differs from EoE. One blinded pathologist read esophageal biopsies from 39 RE and 39 EoE patients. Both groups demonstrated significant numbers of lymphocytes (RE 22.7 +/- 2.2/HPF, EoE 19.8 +/- 1.8/HPF). Eosinophils/HPF in RE and EoE were 2.8 +/- 0.7 and 74.9 +/- 8.2, respectively (P < 0.001). Neutrophils were uncommon in RE (0.26 +/- 0.16/HPF) and EoE (0.09 +/- 0.04; P = 0.07). Eight of the 39 RE specimens had >or=50 lymphocytes in >or=1 HPF. Two were consistent with LE. There was an inverse correlation between numbers of eosinophils and lymphocytes in EoE (R = -0.47; P = 0.002), and no correlation between them in RE (R = 0.18; P = 0.36). The patients with EoE who used antireflux medications had fewer lymphocytes (16.3 +/- 1.3 vs 22.2 +/- 2.3/HPF; P = 0.030) and eosinophils (55.6 +/- 5.2 vs 76.0 +/- 8.7/HPF; P = 0.042) than those who did not. The pathological role of lymphocytes in RE and EoE may be underestimated. Our observation that 5% of the RE specimens meet histopathological criteria for LE potentially blurs the line between these entities. The observation that eosinophil counts are lower in EoE when antireflux meds are used supports the notion that reflux plays a role in the clinical expression of EoE.

Heterotopic gastric mucosa (inlet patch) in a patient with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and laryngeal carcinoma: a case report and review of literature.

The inlet patch is an area of heterotopic gastric mucosa most commonly located in the postcricoid portion of the esophagus at, or just below, the level of the upper esophageal sphincter. Esophageal and supraesophageal symptoms are commonly associated with inlet patch, while esophageal adenocarcinoma rarely complicates it. Laryngeal adenocarcinoma associated with inlet patch is not described in the literature. Herein, we present the first reported case of inlet patch associated with laryngeal carcinoma. A 33-year-old female with long-standing asthma and presumed gastroesophageal reflux developed laryngeal cancer at age 22 years that was treated with concomitant radiation and induction chemotherapy. Subsequently, she had refractory heartburn, dysphagia, and cough. These symptoms continued despite two Nissen fundoplications, glottic web division, and optimal medical management. Upper endoscopy at our institution revealed an upper esophageal stricture and a 1 cm inlet patch. Biopsies showed columnar mucosa (predominantly gastric cardiac/fundic type) consistent with inlet patch, with focal intestinal metaplasia. Subsequent endoscopic mucosal resection of the inlet patch resulted in an amelioration of throat and chest pain, cough, and hoarseness. Dysphagia and regurgitation were improved by serial dilatations of the upper esophageal stricture. This case reveals a number of clinical findings associated with inlet patch--chest pain, dysphagia, cough, and hoarseness--as well as a clinical finding that has not been previously associated with inlet patch: laryngeal cancer. Symptoms refractory to optimal medical management and/or surgical intervention should make the clinician and endoscopist more cognizant of the inlet patch.

Diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy in ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease of unclassified type (IBDU).

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Capsule endoscopy is increasingly reported as an important diagnostic procedure in patients with known or suspected Crohn's disease, but its clinical utility in patients with ulcerative colitis or unclassified type inflammatory bowel disease (IBDU) is unclear. The aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy for small-bowel disease in patients with ulcerative colitis and IBDU. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All data from patients with a history of ulcerative colitis or IBDU who underwent capsule endoscopy between October 2001 and August 2005 were analyzed for procedure indications and findings. Images were reviewed by an experienced capsule endoscopist. The finding of multiple ulcerations (three or more) on capsule endoscopy was classified as diagnostic of small-bowel Crohn's disease. RESULTS: 120 patients had undergone 122 capsule endoscopy procedures. Overall, 19 of 120 patients (15.8 %) had capsule endoscopy findings consistent with the diagnosis of Crohn's disease. The proportion of patients with small-bowel disease was significantly higher among patients with a history of colectomy (7 of 21 patients, 33 %) compared with those without colectomy (12/99, 12 %) ( P = 0.04). Among patients with positive findings on capsule endoscopy, 18 had also previously undergone a small-bowel follow-through study and only one showed findings consistent with Crohn's disease. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and atypical features or IBDU may have small-bowel findings on capsule endoscopy that are consistent with Crohn's disease. Capsule endoscopy should be considered in ulcerative colitis patients with atypical clinical features particularly after colectomy.