Small bowel stenosis: a manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease in children?

Publication date: Available online 9 September 2017
Source:Human Pathology
Author(s): Mickael Tordjman, Marie Ouachee, Arnaud Bonnard, Bogdana Tilea, Karima Yakouben, Jerome Viala, Michel Peuchmaur, Dominique Berrebi
Digestive graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a frequent complication after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), but small bowel obstruction is an extremely rare event. We present herein the first pediatric series of 4 cases of small bowel obstruction after BMT with detailed gross, histological data and their genetic status of the NOD2 gene. All patients had a history of severe acute GVHD treated by immunosuppressive agents and/or infliximab (in 3 cases). Acute or progressively worsening abdominal pain accompanied by small bowel occlusion occurred 5–16months after graft and CT-scan revealed multiple small intestinal stenosis. Failure of intensive medical treatment led to surgical resection of affected loops. Stigmata of acute (apoptosis of crypts and satellitosis) and chronic GVHD features (submucosal fibrosis and serosae sclerolipomatosis), as well as extensive ulcerations, were observed in all ileal specimens. NOD2 mutation was found in only one patient. The follow up showed successful outcome after surgery.



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