Child ; Colitis ; diagnosis ; Colon, Sigmoid ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; etiology ; Eosinophilia ; complications ; diagnosis ; Female ; Gastroenteritis ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Sigmoid Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Sigmoidoscopy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic features of adult-onset autoimmune enteropathy (AIE).

METHODSA case of adult-onset AIE was described along with a literature review.

RESULTSA 41-year-old male patient was admitted for intractable diarrhea for more than three months despite of any dietary restriction or anti-inflammatory therapy. Fat globule was observed by stool examination and Sudan III staining of the stool was positive. Enteroclysis showed weak movement and few plica of small intestine, while colonoscopy appeared normal. Small bowel biopsies revealed villus atrophy and increased crypt apoptotic bodies and lymphocytic infiltration in deep crypt. Although without significant surface intro-epithelial lymphocytosis, there were a large number of monocytes, lymphocytes, plasmacytes and neutrophilic granulocytes infiltrating in the lamina propria. Morphologically, the colonic mucous was similar to the small intestine although cryptitis and crypt abscess were significant in the former. Serum IgG anti-goblet cell antibody was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. Other causes of diarrhea were excluded on the base of medical history, histopathology and other accessory examinations before the diagnosis of AIE was made. The patient had a complete remission after steroid treatment without recurrence for eight months during the follow-up even after steroid withdrawal for five months.

CONCLUSIONSAIE is exceedingly rare and timely diagnosis is important for successful therapy. Histological differential diagnoses should include ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, lymphocytic colitis, etc. The final diagnosis should be based on histological examination combined with the patient history, clinical manifestation, endoscopy finding and serological testing.

Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Celiac Disease ; pathology ; Colon ; pathology ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; etiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Intestine, Small ; pathology ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphocytosis ; pathology ; Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune ; pathology

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are more common in women in relation to the fluctuations of female sex hormones. We tried to know the gender-related differences in the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome and gastrointestinal symptoms according to the menstrual phase. A total of 253 women before menopause and 252 men below age 50 were examined by a gastroenterologist after completing the questionnaire. Blood tests, endoscopic procedures, and imaging studies were done, if needed. Women were subclassified into three groups according to their menst- ruation period; menstrual phase, proliferative phase, and secretory phase. Finally, 179 men and 193 women were analyzed. Irritable bowel syndrome was more frequently noticed in women than in men (p=0.01). The diarrhea-dominant type was more common in men, while constipation-dominant or alternating types were more common in women (p<0.001). Of 193 women, there was no significant difference in their gastrointestinal symptoms according to their menstrual phase. Regardless of the menstrual phase, gastrointestinal symptoms are more frequent in women. Physicians should consider different symptomatic manifestations between men and women should be considered when evaluating functional gastrointestinal disorders.
Adult ; Diarrhea/pathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/diagnosis/epidemiology/pathology ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/*diagnosis/*epidemiology/pathology ; Male ; *Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; Sex Factors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although normal endoscopic findings are, as a rule, part of the diagnosis of microscopic colitis, several cases of macroscopic lesions (MLs) have been reported in collagenous colitis, but hardly in lymphocytic colitis (LC). The aim of this study was to investigate the endoscopic, clinical, and histopathologic features of LC with MLs. METHODS: A total of 14 patients with LC who were diagnosed between 2005 and 2010 were enrolled in the study. Endoscopic, clinical, and histopathologic findings were compared retrospectively according to the presence or absence of MLs. RESULTS: MLs were observed in seven of the 14 LC cases. Six of the MLs exhibited hypervascularity, three exhibited exudative bleeding and one exhibited edema. The patients with MLs had more severe diarrhea and were taking aspirin or proton pump inhibitors. More intraepithelial lymphocytes were observed during histologic examination in the patients with MLs compared to the patients without MLs, although this difference was not significant. The numbers of mononuclear cells and neutrophils in the lamina propria were independent of the presence or absence of MLs. CONCLUSIONS: LC does not always present with normal endoscopic findings. Hypervascularity and exudative bleeding are frequent endoscopic findings in patients with MLs.
Adult ; Aged ; Colitis, Collagenous/*pathology ; Colitis, Lymphocytic/complications/*pathology ; Colon/pathology ; *Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although normal endoscopic findings are, as a rule, part of the diagnosis of microscopic colitis, several cases of macroscopic lesions (MLs) have been reported in collagenous colitis, but hardly in lymphocytic colitis (LC). The aim of this study was to investigate the endoscopic, clinical, and histopathologic features of LC with MLs. METHODS: A total of 14 patients with LC who were diagnosed between 2005 and 2010 were enrolled in the study. Endoscopic, clinical, and histopathologic findings were compared retrospectively according to the presence or absence of MLs. RESULTS: MLs were observed in seven of the 14 LC cases. Six of the MLs exhibited hypervascularity, three exhibited exudative bleeding and one exhibited edema. The patients with MLs had more severe diarrhea and were taking aspirin or proton pump inhibitors. More intraepithelial lymphocytes were observed during histologic examination in the patients with MLs compared to the patients without MLs, although this difference was not significant. The numbers of mononuclear cells and neutrophils in the lamina propria were independent of the presence or absence of MLs. CONCLUSIONS: LC does not always present with normal endoscopic findings. Hypervascularity and exudative bleeding are frequent endoscopic findings in patients with MLs.
Adult ; Aged ; Colitis, Collagenous/*pathology ; Colitis, Lymphocytic/complications/*pathology ; Colon/pathology ; *Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

This is the first case of human cyclosporiasis reported in Korea. We detected the oocyst of Cyclospora cayetanensis from a 14-yr old girl who complained of persistent diarrhea after traveling to Indonesia. Round oocysts sized about 8 to 9 m with wrinkle on the wall were found in modified acid fast stained stool specimen. Stainability was variable from red to pale. Oocyst wall showed typical autofluorescence under ultraviolet illumination. The exact diagnosis for the cause of diarrhea and treatment for this patient were not provided at the right moment from the hospital since the diagnostic system for the Cyclospora infection was not ready in the clinical laboratory of the hospital. More attention should be paid on Cyclospora as a cause of diarrhea especially for those returning from a trip to the tropics and an adequate diagnostic system for the Cyclospora infection should be implemented in clinical laboratories as soon as possible.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Cyclospora/metabolism ; Cyclosporiasis/*diagnosis/*pathology ; Diarrhea/*diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Human ; Indonesia ; Oocysts/metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Travel

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chronic Disease ; Colonoscopy ; methods ; Diarrhea ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

Amebic colitis is a disease revealing diverse clinical manifestations and endoscopic gross features and often confused with other types of colitis. In case of misdiagnosis as an idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease or delayed recognition of intestinal amebiasis, an undesirable outcome may occur resulting from erroneous administration of steroids or delayed antiamebic treatment. To demonstrate the pitfalls in the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal amebiasis, 3 cases of amebic colitis with atypical clinical manifestations are presented in this paper. In conclusion, despite the low sensitivities of routine stool examination for parasite and histopathologic confirmation in biopsy specimen, every effort must be made to find amebic trophozoites either in fresh stool or biopsy specimens for prompt and correct diagnosis of amebic colitis when we manage patients with chronic intestinal ulcerations, even though their clinical course and endoscopic findings are not typical of amebiasis. Moreover, following initial successful anti-amebic therapy, more careful clinical, endoscopical, and parasitological follow-up should be done for the early detection of recurrence.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colitis, Ulcerative/diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea/etiology ; Dysentery, Amebic/complications/drug therapy/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged

Celiac disease is a chronic absorptive disorder of the small intestine caused by gluten. The prevalence rate of celiac disease is 1% in Western countries. But, it is rare in Asian countries, and there is no celiac disease reported in Korea. Here, we report a case of celiac disease. An 36-years-old woman complained non-specific abdominal pain and diarrhea. She had anemia and was taking medication for osteoporosis. Colonoscopy showed no abnormality except shallow ulcer at the terminal ileum. Gastroduodenoscopy showed micronodularity at the duodenum 2nd and 3rd portion. Capsule endoscopy and enteroscopy showed villous atrophy and blunting of villi from the duodenum. Small intestinal pathology showed villous atrophy with lymphocyte infiltration. After gluten free diet, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anemia and osteoporosis were improved. And, she felt well-being sensation. This is a first case of celiac disease in Korea.
Abdominal Pain/etiology ; Adult ; Anemia/etiology ; Capsule Endoscopy ; Celiac Disease/complications/*diagnosis/diet therapy/pathology ; Diarrhea/etiology ; Diet, Gluten-Free ; Duodenum/pathology ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Humans ; Ileum/pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa/pathology ; Osteoporosis/etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

A prostate abscess caused by tuberculosis is an uncommon disease, even though the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in Korea is relatively high. Nevertheless, it is very severe disease with very high mortality rate. This is a case report of 57-year-old renal transplant patient with prostate abscess secondary due to tuberculosis. The patient developed general malaise with fever of 39oC and diarrhea. He underwent trans-rectal ultrasound and abdominal CAT scan examination, which showed an abnormal abscess collection in the prostate. The prostate abscess was drained using ultrasound guided trans-rectal aspiration and catheter insertion. Tuberculosis was confirmed by the pathology and culture studies and anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy was administered as soon as the tissue diagnosis was made. The patient has been doing well with the anti- tuberculosis treatment procedures for 11 months and has maintained baseline graft function with serum creatinine level of 1.6 mg/dL since the treatment. Anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy should be started as soon as possible after diagnosing the prostate abscess caused by tuberculosis in order to save both the patient and graft.
Abscess* ; Animals ; Catheters ; Cats ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Drug Therapy ; Fever ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Pathology ; Prostate ; Transplants ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Ultrasonography