Congestive gastropathy and enteropathy in children

Abstract

Congestive gastropathy (CG) is a well-described complication of portal hypertension in adults, but no satisfactory data on children is available. In this prospective study, endoscopic and histologic findings of 36 children with portal hypertension and/or cirrhosis were evaluated. The most frequent endoscopic finding was esophageal varices (61.1%) followed by antral nodularity (41.7%) and antral hyperemia (30.6%). Of children with presinuoidal portal hypertension, two (16.7%) and of children with cirrhosis and portal hypertension three (16.7%) had antral hyperemia without any histologically proven abnormality. These children were considered to have CG. Of all patients 22.2% and of 30 children with portal hypertension 26.7% had CG. Of them, one (2.8%) was severe and seven (194%) were mild. Hyperemic duodenal mucosa without histologic abnormality was detected in 10% of all patients and In 11. 1 % of patients with cirrhosis without portal hypertension. Helicobacter pylon gastritis was detected in 30.6% of all patients.