Sandra Trapani1, Chiara Rubino2, Giuseppe Indolfi3. 1. Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence and Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy. 2. Post-graduate School of Pediatrics, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 3. Meyer Children's University Hospital and Department, NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Abstract
AIM: The aim of this narrative review was to provide a comprehensive summary of the characteristics of gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in the most common paediatric primary vasculitides. METHODS: We used PubMed to primarily identify papers, reviews, case series and editorials published in English from 2000 until 31 January 2020. Based on this, we report the prevalence, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches and management of GI involvement in each vasculitis. RESULTS: Vasculitides are inflammatory blood vessel diseases, and the majority can affect the GI system with vascular, GI tract or solid organ involvement. GI involvement can sometimes complicate and delay the correct diagnosis. Clinical findings are usually nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Bleeding should alert paediatricians to the possibility of severe complicated vasculitis. Diagnosis relies mostly on imaging. If it goes unrecognised, GI involvement in paediatric vasculitis is a serious cause of morbidity and even mortality, related to bowel ischaemia and perforation. Treatment of GI symptoms depends on the type of vasculitis and usually involves high-dose steroids and immunosuppressants. CONCLUSION: GI manifestations in the most common paediatric primary vasculitides were usually nonspecific, diagnosis mostly relied on imaging, and treatment usually involved high-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.
AIM: The aim of this narrative review was to provide a comprehensive summary of the characteristics of gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in the most common paediatric primary vasculitides. METHODS: We used PubMed to primarily identify papers, reviews, case series and editorials published in English from 2000 until 31 January 2020. Based on this, we report the prevalence, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches and management of GI involvement in each vasculitis. RESULTS: Vasculitides are inflammatory blood vessel diseases, and the majority can affect the GI system with vascular, GI tract or solid organ involvement. GI involvement can sometimes complicate and delay the correct diagnosis. Clinical findings are usually nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Bleeding should alert paediatricians to the possibility of severe complicated vasculitis. Diagnosis relies mostly on imaging. If it goes unrecognised, GI involvement in paediatric vasculitis is a serious cause of morbidity and even mortality, related to bowel ischaemia and perforation. Treatment of GI symptoms depends on the type of vasculitis and usually involves high-dose steroids and immunosuppressants. CONCLUSION: GI manifestations in the most common paediatric primary vasculitides were usually nonspecific, diagnosis mostly relied on imaging, and treatment usually involved high-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.