Genetic analysis is helpful for the diagnosis of small bowel ulceration

Abstract

The widespread use of capsule endoscopy and balloon-assisted endoscopy has provided easy access for detailed mucosal assessment of the small intestine. However, the diagnosis of rare small bowel diseases, such as cryptogenic multifocal ulcerous stenosing enteritis (CMUSE), remains difficult because clinical and morphological features of these diseases are obscure even for gastroenterologists. In an issue of this journal in 2017, Hwang et al reviewed and summarized clinical and radiographic features of 20 patients with an established diagnosis of CMUSE. Recently, recessive mutations in the PLA2G4A and SLCO2A1 genes have been shown to cause small intestinal diseases. The small bowel ulcers in each disease mimic those in the other and furthermore those found in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy. These recent and novel findings suggest that a clinical diagnosis exclusively based on the characteristics of small bowel lesions is possibly imprecise. Genetic analyses seem to be inevitable for the diagnosis of rare small bowel disorders such as CMUSE.

Key Words: Cryptogenic multifocal ulcerous stenosing enteritis; Chronic nonspecific multiple ulcers of the small intestine; Chronic enteropathy associated with SLCO2A1 gene; Crohn’s disease

Core tip: The purpose of this letter to the editor is to comment on the differential diagnosis of small intestinal ulcers. Mutations in PLA2G4A and SLCO2A1, encoding proteins involved in the production and degradation of prostaglandins, cause rare gastrointestinal diseases with multiple small intestinal ulcers. In addition to conventional gastrointestinal examinations, genetic analyses are helpful in distinguishing these diseases.

TO THE EDITOR

We read with interest the article titled “Cryptogenic multifocal ulcerous stenosing enteritis: Radiologic features and clinical behavior” by Hwang et al[1]. This group reviewed the medical records of 36 patients suspected of having cryptogenic multifocal ulcerous stenosing enteritis (CMUSE) from seven hospitals in South Korea and finally diagnosed 20 patients as CMUSE. They performed a detailed investigation of clinical and radiographic features of the patients and claimed that radiologic features of CMUSE are multiple short strictures and/or shallow ulcers of the small intestine without significant bowel obstruction. They also stated that these radiologic features might be helpful in differentiating CMUSE from other inflammatory bowel diseases, especially Crohn’s disease (CD).

Hwang et al[1] diagnosed CMUSE based on the published criteria[2,3]: (1) Unexplained small bowel strictures; (2) superficial ulcer in the mucosa and submucosa; (3) chronic or relapsing ulcerative stenosis and abdominal pain; (4) no signs of systemic inflammation; and (5) persistent and occult blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract except during bowel rest or the postoperative period. We agree with the diagnosis of the patients as non-CD, but we have a major concern about the diagnosis of CMUSE. First, they did not mention the history of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and the possibility of NSAID-induced enteropathy could not be excluded. Second, they did not distinguish CMUSE from chronic nonspecific multiple ulcers of the small intestine (CNSU). Recently, CMUSE has been found to be an autosomal recessive inherited disease caused by mutations in the PLA2G4A gene[4,5]. Because the PLA2G4A gene encodes cytoplasmic phospholipase A2-α (cPLA2α), which catalyzes the release of arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids, CMUSE patients exhibit reduced production of prostaglandins and thromboxane A2, resulting in multiple ulcers of the small intestine and platelet dysfunction. We also identified that loss-of-function mutations in the SLCO2A1 gene encoding a prostaglandin transporter cause CNSU and established a new disease entity as “chronic enteropathy associated with SLCO2A1 gene” (CEAS)[6]. Thus, additional genetic analysis is helpful in diagnosing CMUSE and CEAS. Given that the endoscopic and radiographic features of CMUSE, CEAS, and NSAID-induced enteropathy are quite similar[7], updated information on genetic tests and history of NSAID use is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. An accurate diagnosis also aids in further understanding the patient’s clinical and radiographic features.

We have reported a nationwide survey with genetic analysis in Japanese patients with CEAS[8]. We believe that the prevalence rate of CEAS is increased compared with CMUSE because some pathogenic mutations of the SLCO2A1 gene are observed in the general population according to the dbSNP database[9] (e.g., the mutation allele frequency of rs765249238, c.940+1G>A is 0.00003295). By contrast, identified mutations of the PLA2G4A gene such as rs121434634 and rs121434635 are not observed in the general population. Therefore, it is possible that some patients in the study by Hwang et al[1] harbor recessive SLCO2A1 gene mutations. The SLCO2A1 gene encodes a prostaglandin transporter that mediates the uptake and clearance of prostaglandins. The SLCO2A1 gene is also known as a cause of primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO), which affects the skin and bones, presenting as digital clubbing, periostosis, acroosteolysis, painful joint enlargement, and thickened skin[10]. We previously reported that 30% of CEAS patients have at least one clinical feature of PHO as an extra-intestinal manifestation[8]. Data regarding the prevalence of these extra-intestinal manifestations among the patients are of particular interest. We are also eager to obtain this information for the patients in the study by Hwang et al[1].

In conclusion, additional genetic analysis should be helpful for the differential diagnosis of CMUSE and CEAS.