Lupus enteritis is a rare, severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), needing prompt diagnosis and proper management. However, SLE rarely presents as lupus enteritis at the time of initial diagnosis. Thus, delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis are common. We report a case of a 25-year-old woman with lupus panenteritis. The patient had multiple hospitalizations for abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea, initially without any other symptoms suggestive of SLE, but was later observed to have malar rash and oral ulcers. Laboratory investigations were compatible with SLE, including positive antinuclear antibody (1:320) with speckled pattern. CT revealed diffuse hypodense submucosal thickening of the stomach, the entire small bowel, colon, appendix, and rectum. Treatment with high-dose corticosteroids followed by maintenance therapy with mycophenolate mofetil, hydroxychloroquine, and azathioprine resulted in clinical improvement. Diagnosis of lupus enteritis requires a high index of suspicion given the low incidence and nonspecific clinical findings.
Abdominal Pain/complications ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use ; Adult ; Brain/diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea/complications ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Enteritis/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nausea/complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo report operative and long-term results after surgery for chronic radiation enteritis and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of surgery and investigate the risk factors of postoperative survival rate.

METHODSThe 120 CRE patients performed with diseased bowel resection from June 2001 to March 2011 were analyzed retrospectively and followed up by telephone. There were 22 male and 98 female patients and their age were 23-82 years (median 52 years). Their demographic data, the cancer history, the characteristics of radiotherapy received (total dose, defined as the cumulative dose of external and endocavity radiation), the time interval between the first symptoms and the first surgical procedure, postoperative complications, length of residual small bowel, postoperative survival rate were recorded. Evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of surgery and investigate the risk factors of postoperative survival rate.

RESULTSThe postoperative overall complications and the incidence of moderate to severe complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade III-V) were 61.7% and 33.3%, respectively. The postopertive mortality was 2.5%. The survival probabilities were 96%, 60% and 37% at 1-, 5- and 10-years, respectively. At the end of follow up, the mean of body mass index (BMI) increased compared with the BMI of preoperatiive ((17.6 ± 3.0) kg/m(2) vs. (20.2 ± 3.0) kg/m(2), t = 6.01, P < 0.01). The 93% of patients can stop PN and regain full oral diet after operation (χ(2) = 164.1, P < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, survival was significantly decreased with residual neoplastic disease (HR = 4.082, 95%CI: 1.318-12.648), an American Society of Anesthesiologists score>3 (HR = 3.495, 95%CI: 1.131-10.800) and an age of chronic radiation enteritis diagnosis >70 years (HR = 2.800, 95%CI: 0.853-9.189).

CONCLUSIONSThe survival of patients with chronic radiation enteritis complicated with intestinal obstruction after intestinal resection was good and was mainly influenced by underlying comorbidities. Majority of the patients can stop PN and regain full oral diet after operation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Enteritis ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Radiation Injuries ; complications ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a rare disease characterized by focal or diffuse eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the stomach and duodenum. EGE has vague, nonspecific symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, ascites, and malabsorption. Here, we report a patient with EGE presenting with concurrent acute pancreatitis and ascites. A 68-year-old woman was admitted with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and watery diarrhea. Laboratory findings revealed elevated serum titers of amylase, lipase, and peripheral blood eosinophil count. An abdominopelvic computed tomography scan showed a normal pancreas, moderate amount of ascites, and duodenal thickening. A esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed patchy erythematous mucosal lesions in the 2nd portion of the duodenum. Biopsies from the duodenum indicated eosinophilic infiltration in the lamina propria. The patient was successfully treated with prednisolone and montelukast. Despite its unusual occurrence, EGE may be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained acute pancreatitis, especially in a patient with duodenal edema on imaging or peripheral eosinophilia.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Ascites/*etiology ; Enteritis/*complications ; Eosinophilia/*complications ; Female ; Gastritis/*complications ; Humans ; Pancreatitis/*etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Ischemic enteritis is caused by either the interruption or significant reduction of arterial inflow to the small intestine. Risk factors are old age, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. It is very rare in young patients. We experienced a 21-year-old man with recurrent acute ischemic enteritis who was diagnosed with capsule endoscopy. He had previously taken medications for pulmonary hypertension and obstruction of both carotid arteries, and about 20 months earlier, he had been admitted due to hematochezia. Two sessions of angiography did not reveal the cause of hematochezia. At that time, capsule endoscopy showed mucosal edema and erythema in the terminal ileum, suggesting healed ischemic enteritis. The patient was admitted again due to hematochezia. Abdominal computed tomography showed focal celiac trunk stenosis and diffuse wall thickening of the small intestine, suggesting ischemic enteritis. Capsule endoscopy showed multiple active ulcers and severe hemorrhage with exudate, extending from the proximal jejunum to the terminal ileum. Using capsule endoscopy, the patient was diagnosed with acute extensive ischemic enteritis. Because endoscopic images of ischemic enteritis have rarely been reported, we report a case of a 21-year-old man who was diagnosed acute extensive ischemic enteritis with capsule endoscopy.
Angiography ; Capsule Endoscopy ; Enteritis/complications/*diagnosis/radiography ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology ; Humans ; Intestine, Small/pathology ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of preoperative nutritional support in the management of patients with chronic radiation enteritis (CRE) with intestinal obstruction undergoing resectional surgery.

METHODSClinical data of 158 CRE patients undergoing diseased bowel resection from 2001 to 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 130 patients received preoperative nutritional support, including 28 patients with enteral nutrition support, 60 patients with total parenteral nutrition support, and 42 patients with combined nutritional support. The nutritional parameters, procedures, operation-related complications, and postoperative hospital stay were recorded.

RESULTSAfter aggressive nutritional support in 130 patients, patients nutritional index, such as serum prealbumin, transferrin, serum albumin improved significantly preoperatively, while the change of body mass index and hemoglobin was not significant. Compared to those without preoperative nutritional support, those who received preoperative nutritional support had lower stoma rate (31.5% vs. 53.6%, P=0.027), less postoperative infection rate (13.8% vs. 32.1%, P=0.019), shorter postoperative hospital stay [(14.1±7.3) d vs. (18.8±15.8) d, P=0.013). Enteral nutrition group had less postoperative infection rate (7.1% vs. 21.7%, P=0.017), lower stoma rate (28.6% vs. 48.3%, P=0.02), and shorter postoperative hospital stay [(15.5±9.6) d vs. (21.7±19.0) d, P=0.025) as compared to total parenteral nutrition group.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative nutritional support can decrease the stoma rate, postoperative infection rate, and shorten hospital stay in CRE patients complicated with intestinal obstruction. If tolerated, enteral nutrition support should be chosen.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chronic Disease ; Enteritis ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Support ; methods ; Preoperative Care ; Radiation Injuries ; complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are usually diagnosed in immunocompromised patients. A 74-year-old male without any significant medical history visited our center because of abdominal pain and diarrhea which began about a month ago. Abdominal computed tomography revealed segmental enhanced bowel wall thickening on jejunum and single-balloon enteroscopy showed multiple geographic shaped ulcerations covered with exudates on proximal jejunum. Biopsy samples taken during endoscopic examination demonstrated necrotic fibrinopurulent tissue debris and benign ulcer. Nested-PCR analysis of CMV DNA from jejunal tissue was positive. The patient was finally diagnosed with CMV jejunitis and was treated by intravenous ganciclovir for 14 days after which, abdominal pain and diarrhea improved. Our case shows that CMV jejunitis can occur in an immunocompetent adult as multiple jejunal ulcers which can be diagnosed using a single-balloon enteroscope.
Aged ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Cytomegalovirus/genetics/isolation & purification ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; DNA, Viral/analysis ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Enteritis/*diagnosis/etiology/virology ; Ganciclovir/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Jejunal Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology/virology ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Ascites ; etiology ; Child, Preschool ; Enteritis ; complications ; Eosinophilia ; complications ; Female ; Gastritis ; complications ; Humans ; Recurrence

Adult ; Ascites ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Duodenal Obstruction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Enteritis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Eosinophilia ; complications ; drug therapy ; Gastritis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Faltering linear growth is commonly encountered in children with intestinal inflammation. Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are important regulators of postnatal longitudinal bone growth. Inhibition of GH/IGF axis will result in growth failure in young children. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) abnormally increase in children with intestinal inflammation, and may affect linear growth both systemically and locally at the level of the growth plate though disturbing the GH/IGF axis.
Bone Development ; Cytokines ; physiology ; Enteritis ; complications ; Growth Disorders ; etiology ; Human Growth Hormone ; physiology ; Humans ; Somatomedins ; physiology

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is usually subclinical in immunocompetent individuals, however it can be life threatening in an elderly immunocompetent individual. We report a case of CMV enteritis causing ileal perforation in a physically active elderly man. An 88-year-old healthy man presented with abdominal pain and diarrhea. After initial conservative treatment, emergency laparotomy was performed for ileal perforation. The diagnosis of CMV enteritis was based on histological findings revealing many large cells with CMV inclusion bodies in the surgical specimen. In elderly individuals, even though they are immunocompetent, CMV enteritis may result in major complications such as bowel perforation, and it should be included in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea if it is resistant to conventional treatment.
Aged, 80 and over ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/*complications/diagnosis ; Enteritis/*complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Intestinal Perforation/*etiology ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed