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Intestinal spirochetosis in eight pediatric patients from Southern Sweden - A clinical, histopathological and ultrastructural study

Marthinsen, L ; Willen, R ; Carlén, Birgitta LU ; Lindberg, E and Varendh, G (2002) In APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica 110(7-8). p.571-579
Abstract
Intestinal spirochetes in humans have been recognized for more than a century, but it is still a matter of debate whether they are just commensal organisms or whether they cause colorectal disease. Most descriptions to date are of adult patients, while reports in the pediatric literature have been scarce. In a retrospective study we found eight children with intestinal spirochetosis. The findings, clinical as well as pathological, with light- and electron microscopy, are presented. In all patients, a 3 pm-thick layer of spirochetes was visualised on the luminal aspect of the epithelial cells covering the enterocytes and part of the gland openings. In five of the eight cases an inflammatory cell reaction was seen by light microscopy and in... (More)
Intestinal spirochetes in humans have been recognized for more than a century, but it is still a matter of debate whether they are just commensal organisms or whether they cause colorectal disease. Most descriptions to date are of adult patients, while reports in the pediatric literature have been scarce. In a retrospective study we found eight children with intestinal spirochetosis. The findings, clinical as well as pathological, with light- and electron microscopy, are presented. In all patients, a 3 pm-thick layer of spirochetes was visualised on the luminal aspect of the epithelial cells covering the enterocytes and part of the gland openings. In five of the eight cases an inflammatory cell reaction was seen by light microscopy and in one patient a picture suggesting intracytoplasmatically located spirochetes was seen by electron microscopy. Despite partial or complete destruction of microvilli, spirochetes were still able to adhere to the enterocyte membranes. In three children there was a clear correlation between treatment and relief of symptoms. In four there was partial improvement and in one child no change in bowel-related symptoms. We believe that intestinal spirochetes may cause colorectal disease in children. Possible pathogenic mechanisms are discussed. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
pediatrics, electron microscopy, intestinal spirochetosis, histopathology
in
APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica
volume
110
issue
7-8
pages
571 - 579
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • pmid:12390416
  • wos:000178291000009
  • scopus:0036695475
ISSN
1600-0463
DOI
10.1034/j.1600-0463.2002.11007809.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Pathology, (Lund) (013030000)
id
9c73e993-7360-4631-b508-58039b7cc4db (old id 327683)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:24:17
date last changed
2022-03-29 00:24:26
@article{9c73e993-7360-4631-b508-58039b7cc4db,
  abstract     = {{Intestinal spirochetes in humans have been recognized for more than a century, but it is still a matter of debate whether they are just commensal organisms or whether they cause colorectal disease. Most descriptions to date are of adult patients, while reports in the pediatric literature have been scarce. In a retrospective study we found eight children with intestinal spirochetosis. The findings, clinical as well as pathological, with light- and electron microscopy, are presented. In all patients, a 3 pm-thick layer of spirochetes was visualised on the luminal aspect of the epithelial cells covering the enterocytes and part of the gland openings. In five of the eight cases an inflammatory cell reaction was seen by light microscopy and in one patient a picture suggesting intracytoplasmatically located spirochetes was seen by electron microscopy. Despite partial or complete destruction of microvilli, spirochetes were still able to adhere to the enterocyte membranes. In three children there was a clear correlation between treatment and relief of symptoms. In four there was partial improvement and in one child no change in bowel-related symptoms. We believe that intestinal spirochetes may cause colorectal disease in children. Possible pathogenic mechanisms are discussed.}},
  author       = {{Marthinsen, L and Willen, R and Carlén, Birgitta and Lindberg, E and Varendh, G}},
  issn         = {{1600-0463}},
  keywords     = {{pediatrics; electron microscopy; intestinal spirochetosis; histopathology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7-8}},
  pages        = {{571--579}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica}},
  title        = {{Intestinal spirochetosis in eight pediatric patients from Southern Sweden - A clinical, histopathological and ultrastructural study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0463.2002.11007809.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1034/j.1600-0463.2002.11007809.x}},
  volume       = {{110}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}