Abstract
Little information exists about histologic change in the colonic mucosa of infants with possible colitis. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and pathologic specimens of infants 3 mos. of age who had rectal biopsies from 1976–1983. All biopsies were coded and read without knowledge of clinical information. Three groups of patients were studied: the control group, (n=7) who had no rectal bleeding and had suction biopsies for suspected Hirschsprung's disease; a disease control group (n=8) who were identified subsequently to have enteric infections; and the study group (n=27) with rectal bleeding, negative bacterial cultures and examinations for ova and parasites. The frequency of clinical symptoms (bleeding, mucus in stool, colic, fever, vomiting, diarrhea) and laboratory findings did not differ between the disease control and study group. The overall architecture was normal in all 3 groups. Epithelial cell injury was not present. In contrast with controls, in both disease control and study group, eosinophils were present in the surface and crypt epithelium. Eosinophils were increased around the base of the crypts in the study (26±8/10 HPF) group compared to that of combined control and disease control (8±3/10 HPF) (p< 0.05 by student's t-test).
Conclusion: In the absence of epithelial cell injury, eosinophils, especially located around the base of the crypt, are greatly increased in the colonic mucosa of infants with probable idiopathic colitis.
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Fukagawa, N., Marcial, M., Antonioli, D. et al. 652 EOSINOPHILS IN THE COLONIC EPITHELIUM OF INFANTS. Pediatr Res 19, 219 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00682
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00682