There is evidence that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) display an increased immune reactivity against gluten, which is supposed to be the effect of intestinal barrier abnormalities. The aim of study was to evaluate the relation of antibody induced by gluten to zonulin and intestinal fatty acid binding proteins (I-FABP), that is, serological markers of an impaired gut barrier. The study included 77 patients with ASDs. Zonulin, I-FABP, celiac-specific antibodies, anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA), and antibodies against neural transglutaminase 6 (TG6) of immunoglobulin (Ig) A and IgG classes were detected in sera. Celiac-specific antibodies were negative in all ASD children, four children (5.2%) had positive anti-TG6 antibodies, and increased AGA-IgG production was found in 21 patients (27.3%). Mean levels of zonulin and I-FABP in ASD patients were similar to those found in healthy controls and revealed a negative correlation with age, whereas regression analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between antibody production and the age. Serum concentrations of zonulin and I-FABP showed no statistically significant association with antibody positivity. An increased production of antibodies related to gliadin and neural TG6 in ASD children is not related to serological markers of an impaired intestinal barrier.

IntroductionThe results of studies assessing whether patients with Down syndrome have increased risk of coeliac disease are contradictory. The prevalence of coeliac disease in patients with Down syndrome is estimated at a wide range between 1% to as much as 18.6%.AimTo assess coeliac disease prevalence in patients with Down syndrome in Poland.Material and methodsThe study enrolled 301 patients with Down syndrome from six centres in Poland (Wroclaw, Sandomierz, Rzeszow, Grudziadz, Katowice, and Bydgoszcz). We measured the concentration of anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies and anti-deamidated gliadin peptide IgG antibodies in all patients. Patients with abnormal positive (> 10 U/ml) or inconclusive (7–10 U/ml) result of the serological test were offered endoscopic biopsy of the small intestine in the main centre.ResultsIn 31 (10.3%) patients increased concentrations of the investigated antibodies were found, including 19 (6.3%) patients with increased tTg-IgA concentration, 27 (8.97%) patients with increased concentration of DGP-IgG, and 15 (4.98%) patients with increased concentration of both types of antibodies. Endoscopic biopsy of the small intestine was planned for all 31 patients with abnormal results of at least one antibody test and for 2 patients with inconclusive results. One of them suffered from previously diagnosed and histologically confirmed coeliac disease. Biopsy was not conducted in 9 patients due to contraindications, lack of their consent, or introduction of a gluten-free diet by the parents before the examination. In a group of 23 patients who underwent endoscopic biopsy of the small intestine, in 15 patients the histopathological picture of the small intestinal mucosa was typical for coeliac disease, 2 patients were diagnosed with lesions of grade 1 according to the classification by Marsh-Oberhuber, 1 patient was diagnosed with focal shortening of villi and hypertrophy of the crypts with no intraepithelial lymphocytosis (remains under gastrological observation), 2 patients were diagnosed with mucosal inflammation of the duodenum, and 3 patients were found to have a normal histopathological picture of the small intestine. Analysis of the data included in the questionnaires of all patients showed no statistically significant differences in the body height, body mass index, prevalence of abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipations, recurrent stomatitis, enamel hypoplasia, thyroid diseases, or hypertransaminasaemia between the groups of patients with normal and abnormal serological test results. Significantly higher prevalence of abdominal flatulence (p < 0.05) and epilepsy (p < 0.05) was found in the group of patients whose serological test results were negative.ConclusionsPatients with Down syndrome are a high-risk group for coeliac disease in the Polish population, with an estimated prevalence of at least 5.4%. Serological tools based on tTG-IgA and DGP-IgG tests are useful for the diagnosis of coeliac disease in Down syndrome patients. tTG-IgA test may be superior to DGP-IgG test in pa...

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AIM:To describe a new clinical and pathological subtype of microscopic colitis in children. METHODS:A selected group of children with abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhoea showing discrete or no macroscopic abnormalities on endoscopy was described. RESULTS:Multiple biopsies of colon showed large mononuclear clear cells in lamina propria of mucous membrane provided that good quality histological s e c t i o n s w e re p e r fo r m e d a n d o b s e r ve d u n d e r a h i g h e r m a g n i f i c a t i o n . O t h e r w i s e , t h e y c o u l d b e misinterpreted as artefacts. Their presence in routine histology might suggest a systemic storage disease (Whipple's disease), and neuronal intestine dysplasia. Using immunohistochemical staining and electron microscopy we confirmed their origin from CD68 positive mononuclear macrophages. CONCLUSION:The presence of large clear cells is a constant microscopic feature. Failure of transient large bowel stationary macrophages plays a role in the pathogenesis of this benign microscopic clear cell colitis, sometimes coexisting with allergy.

Information on solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) in children is limited and based on case reports only. This study was undertaken with the objective of describing the clinical history, symptoms, diagnostic work-up, and treatment of a large case series of pediatric patients with SRUS. The study was multi-center and retrospective. All pediatric endoscopists in Poland were invited to participate in the study and were asked to look through their endoscopic databases to identify SRUS cases from the last 10 years. The charts of SRUS patients were reviewed with respect to demographic data, and endoscopic and histological findings. Additionally, treatment methods and outcomes were assessed. In total, 31 patients (18 males, mean age of 13 years, range 5-18 years) were included in the study. All patients reported rectal bleeding. Other common symptoms included: abdominal pain (64.5%), perianal pain (54.8%), and passage of mucus (51.6%). The diagnostic work-up lasted from 1 to 48 months. Colonoscopic findings revealed rectal ulceration in 96.8% of patients. Therapeutic approaches included: high fiber diet (64.5%), laxatives (54.8%), topical corticosteroids (63.3%), 5-aminosalicylates administered orally and topically (29.1% and 96.8%, respectively), sucralfate (9.7%), and a biofeedback training (6.6%). Endoscopic argon plasma coagulation was performed in 2 patients and surgical intervention was necessary in 4 of them. Treatment was unsuccessful in 36% of patients. The findings of this study indicate that SRUS is rare in pediatric population, its diagnosis may be considerably delayed, and the treatment applied is often ineffective.