Enteropathy-Associated T Cell Lymphoma as a Complication of Silent Celiac Disease

Abstract

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which a genetic predisposition and the ingestion of wheat gluten triggers a deleterious immune response. This response is complex and may lead to manifestations other than enteropathyha: hepatitis, dermatitis and neuropathy. There is higher risk for neoplasia. We observed an atypical case, corresponding to a 69-year old female presenting with complicated celiac disease. The patient was referred following the histological examination of an enterectomy specimen, which unexpectedly revealed an enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma in a background of celiac disease. Patient’s previous medical history comprised several abdominal surgical procedures, without other prior symptoms suggestive of celiac disease. Indeed, the patient was obese and no signs of malabsortion were apparent. This case draws our attention to clinically silent celiac disease, which represents a diagnostic challenge. Thus, this should be kept in mind whenever a patient presents with abdominal relapsing complications, otherwise unexplained.

Introduction

Celiac disease (CeD) is a complex disorder of the immune system in which patients have a genetic predisposition and the ingestion of wheat gluten (or related proteins) triggers a deleterious immune response. Tissue glutaminase binds these ingested peptides and presents them to T cells that lead to B cell production of autoantibodies. Innate immunity is also involved targeting gliadin and tissue transglutaminase, causing inflammatory response with tissue damage.^1,2 This immune response is complex and may lead to manifestations other than enterophaty: hepatitis, dermatitis, thyroid disorders and neuropathy.^1-4 There is also a higher risk for neoplasia. Among these, enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma (EATL) is a very rare malignancy (incidence 0.5 to 1 per million). The 2008 World Health Organization classification of tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues recognizes two types of EATL, according to morphologic and genetic features. EATL type 1 is more frequently associated with CeD, usually arising as late complication of refractory disease and carrying a dismal prognosis.^5,6

Several studies shown a trend for increasing incidence of CeD and up to 20 or 30% of patients are diagnosed after the age of sixty. Clinical manifestations in elderly patients remain largely uncharacterized.^7-10

Case Report

We have recently observed an atypical clinical case, corresponding to a 69-year old Caucasian female presenting with complicated celiac disease and EATL at diagnosis. The patient was referred to the Department of Hematology from the Department of Surgery following the histological examination of a partial enterectomy specimen, which unexpectedly revealed EATL in a background of CeD. Patient’s previous medical history comprised obesity and several abdominal surgical procedures. In May 2008, a laparotomy was performed to correct an incisional hernia and few months later she developed bowel obstruction requiring laparotomy. The cause of the obstruction was not found. Gradually the incisional hernia relapsed and in May 2013 a small bowel enterocutaneous fistula became apparent, entailing another laparotomy in which a partial enterectomy was performed. Grossly, the specimen showed a diffuse whitish thickening of the intestinal wall and histological examination revealed typical features of EATL type 1, as well as histological changes suggestive of CeD in the adjacent mucosa (Figure 1). The tumor immunophenotype was: CD2+, CD3+, and CD5+ (low expression), CD8+, CD30+, CD4-, CD20-, CD15-, CD56-, ALK-. In situ hybridization for EBV RNA (EBER-1) was positive.

Figure 1.

A) Low-power view of the lymphoma, involving the intestinal wall and ulcerating the mucosa (HE staining). B) Immunoreactivity for CD3 in small and intermediate-size neoplastic cells; large cells have lost positivity for CD3.

At the time of admission in the Department of Hematology (five months after the last surgery), the patient showed minor dehiscence of the abdominal incision with no further complaints. We sought for other clinical complaints that could suggest CeD, but besides the occlusive episode, the patient referred regular bowel function and no systemic complaints. Blood analyses were entirely normal, with no signs of anemia or liver abnormalities. Serologic testing for antigliadin antibodies and transglutaminase antibodies (IgA and IgG) were negative. The deamidated gliadin peptides assay was not performed because it is not available at our institution. Colonoscopy revealed stenosis and ulceration at the enterocolic anastomosis (Figure 2). Bone marrow biopsy was normal. Staging computed tomography scan was consistent with localized disease and thus the patient was considered stage II according to the Lugano staging system for gastrointestinal lymphomas.¹¹ Although staging procedures are not standardized for this lymphoma, video capsule enteroscopy and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography are clinical options.

Figure 2.

Photography from colonoscopy showing stenosis and ulceration at the enterocolic anastomosis.

The patient was treated with six cycles of chemotherapy according to the CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone) protocol and referred for nutritional counseling. Between chemotherapy cycles the patient received hematopoietic growth factor (G-CSF) prophylactic treatment. The minor dehiscence of the abdominal incision showed on several occasions signs of mild infection. She had regular nursing wound care and often needed oral antibiotic prescription, according to the microbiology swabs. The patient never experienced neutropenic fever or other signs of severe infection.

At the end of chemotherapy the patient was in complete remission: both the computed tomography scan and biopsy of enterocolic anastomosis were negative for neoplasia. High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation was not pursued since this was an elderly patient, prone to complications during this aggressive treatment and had localized disease at diagnosis. Currently she is planned for clinical and endoscopic follow-up. Computed tomography scan can provide further information if relapse is suspected. It has been difficult to alter the nutritional habits of this elderly patient, but since the EATL diagnosis the patient is receiving nutritional counseling to follow a gluten-free diet.

Discussion

In the context of CeD, this patient displayed a very atypical clinical picture, presenting with enterophaty-related lymphoma concomitant with histological changes suggestive of CeD in the adjacent mucosa, without prior symptoms suggestive of CeD. Indeed, the patient is obese and no signs of malabsortion were apparent. Moreover, no antibodies against gliadin were detected. Although specific, its absence does not exclude CeD.^2-4 One may question if the previous abdominal relapsing complications that required multiple laparotomies across several years were due to silent CeD.^5,6

This atypical clinical presentation contributed to diagnosis delay and lack of specific measures that could have contributed to prevent the evolution towards EATL. The patient was exposed to gluten during all her lifetime and it is widely acknowledged that a glutenfree diet effectively prevents the development of EATL in patients with overt CeD.^12,13 In this clinical case there was no formal indication to institute a gluten-free diet previous to the diagnosis of lymphoma, since the diagnosis of CeD was simultaneous to that of EATL. One may question whether silent CeD patients would benefit from an earlier institution of gluten-free diet in order to prevent those events.Enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma is frequently diagnosed after pathologic evaluation of a resected specimen of small bowel due to intestinal obstruction or perforation. Patient’s clinical conditions are often a major contraindication to start chemotherapy. Complications such as perforation, infection, fistulae and poor nutritional status related with chronic malabsorption may postpone systemic treatment. This plays a relevant role in defining part of the poor prognosis of this disease.^14,15 Nutritional support, sometimes with parenteral nutrition, and rigorous control of infectious complications are critical issues in the management of these patients. Fortunately, our patient did not experience any of those problems. Although she had a minor dehiscence of the abdominal incision she was able to tolerate chemotherapy.

This patient received six cycles of chemotherapy according to the CHOP protocol. There is no standard treatment approach for this rare lymphoma. Usually the treatment consists of a combination chemotherapy regimen used for other aggressive T cell lymphomas.^14,15 This patient was not a candidate for autologous hematopoietic transplantation, but some studies (based in small number of patients) suggest survival benefit with transplantation in first remission when patients are eligible.^16,17

Generally EATL is an aggressive lymphoma with high-grade histology and poor prognosis, usually worse than other intestinal lymphomas. The major determinants of prognosis are stage at presentation and clinical status to allow for systemic treatment. Occasional patients with localized disease may be cured but many patients will die from complications of multifocal intestinal perforation or systemic progression. The five-year overall survival rate with anthracycline-based chemotherapy is approximately 10 to 20 percent.^14,15

Conclusions

This case draws our attention to clinically silent CeD, which represents a diagnostic challenge. Thus, this should be kept in mind whenever a patient presents with abdominal relapsing complications which are otherwise unexplained.