Mucosal eosinophils, mast cells, and intraepithelial lymphocytes in youth with rumination syndrome
Children’s Mercy researchers in gastroenterology analyzed 28 youth meeting Rome IV criteria for rumination syndrome who had undergone endoscopy (compared to 10 controls) to assess antral and duodenal biopsies and cell densities.
They found that antral mast cell (peak 18.5±6.5 vs. 12.5±2.7) and eosinophil (peak 9.6±5.2 vs. 4.9±2.1) densities were significantly greater in patients with rumination syndrome as compared to controls. Patients with rumination syndrome also had increased duodenal intraepithelial lymphocyte densities (18.9 ± 5.1 vs. 11.7 ± 1.5; p<.001).
The associations in this study were independent of abdominal pain or early satiety. Findings suggest potential presence of inflammation in the pathophysiology of rumination syndrome, and future studies may help identify if treatment targeted at these cells is beneficial for patients.
Children’s Mercy contributors include John Rosen, MD, Christina Low Kapalu, PhD, Meenal Singh, Tracy Spaeth, APRN, FNP-BC, Jose Cocjin, MD, Craig Friesen, MD, and Jennifer Schurman, PhD.
Listen to the podcast by Craig Friesen, MD, on this topic.
GI Connect