Endoscopic Findings of Upper Gastrointestinal Involvement in Primary Vasculitis

Abstract

Background/Aims

Gastrointestinal involvement in vasculitis may result in life-threatening complications. However, its variable clinical presentations and endoscopic features, and the rarity of the disease, often result in delayed diagnosis.

Methods

Clinical characteristics, endoscopic features, and histopathological findings were reviewed from medical records.

Results

Of 6,477 patients with vasculitis, 148 were diagnosed as primary vasculitis with upper gastrointestinal involvement. Of these, 21 cases (14.2%) were classified as large-vessel vasculitis, 17 cases (11.5%) as medium-vessel vasculitis, and 110 cases (74.3%) as small-vessel vasculitis. According to the specific diagnosis, IgA vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein purpura) was the most common diagnosis (56.8%), followed by Takayasu arteritis (14.1%), microscopic polyangiitis (10.1%), and polyarteritis nodosa (6.8%). Gastrointestinal symptoms were present in 113 subjects (76.4%), with abdominal pain (78.8%) the most common symptom. Erosion and ulcers were striking endoscopic features, and the second portion of the duodenum was the most frequently involved site. Biopsy specimens were obtained from 124 patients, and only eight (5.4%) presented histopathological signs of vasculitis.

Conclusions

Diagnosis of vasculitis involving the upper gastrointestinal tract is difficult. Because of the widespread use of endoscopy, combining clinical features with endoscopic findings may facilitate making appropriate diagnoses; however, the diagnostic yield of endoscopic biopsy is low.

INTRODUCTION

Vasculitis is an inflammatory disease of blood vessels, which alter vascular blood flow and can damage dependent organs.^1,2 The clinical course of vasculitis is variable and depends on the size and type of vessels affected. The clinical manifestations of vasculitis with gastrointestinal involvement range from mild symptoms to life threatening complications such as perforation, acute mesenteric ischemia, and bowel infarction.^3,4 Therefore, accurate diagnosis and early treatment are mandatory to avoid a poor prognosis, and endoscopic examination helps to identify the site and extent of involvement and assess prognosis.

Diagnosis of gastrointestinal involvement of vasculitis is difficult and often relies on comprehensive investigations including clinical features, laboratory data, radiologic evaluation, and histopathological examination.^5–8 Suspicion based on clinical manifestations, notably the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms, is important. However, gastrointestinal manifestations are variable, and this can make diagnosis more difficult. In such cases endoscopic examination may be performed to define the extent and nature of the lesion, and endoscopic biopsy might give a clue for diagnosis. We therefore investigated the clinical features of vasculitis with upper gastrointestinal (UGI) involvement, especially from the point of view of endoscopic findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 6,477 subjects diagnosed as vasculitis at the Asan Medical Center from June 1990 to July 2013 were eligible. Clinical characteristics, endoscopic features, and histopathologic findings were reviewed from medical records.

Primary vasculitis was defined according to the criteria proposed by the American College of Rheumatology and Chapel Hill Consensus Conference nomenclature.⁹ Gastrointestinal involvement of vasculitis was defined as follows: (1) gastrointestinal symptoms that present at the time of the diagnosis of vasculitis and respond to specific therapy for vasculitis; (2) gastrointestinal symptoms that occur during a relapse or flare-up of vasculitis and respond to specific therapy for vasculitis; and/or (3) gastrointestinal involvement considered to be associated with vasculitis based on radiologic findings, endoscopic findings, or histopathological examination. Vasculitis is further classified by the size of vessels usually affected; large-sized, medium-sized, or small-sized arteries. Behçet’s disease is vasculitis affect vessels of any size and regarded as primary vasculitis rather than vasculitis associated with systemic disease because of the frequency of vasculitis. However, we excluded Behçet’s disease in the analyses because there have been several reports regarding the endoscopic features of Behçet’s disease.^10,11

Endoscopy was performed in cases of clinically suspected gastrointestinal tract involvement, and biopsy specimens were taken upon endoscopists’ suspicion. Symptoms were categorized as abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal bleeding. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Asan Medical Center (2014–0255).

RESULTS

1. Clinical characteristics of patients with vasculitis involving the upper gastrointestinal tract

During the study period, 912 of 6,477 subjects diagnosed as vasculitis underwent endoscopic examination, and a total of 148 patients were diagnosed as primary vasculitis with UGI involvement. The median age of these 148 patients was 49 years (interquartile range, 13 to 65 years) and the male-to-female ratio was 0.97:1. IgA vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein purpura [HSP]) was the most common diagnosis (n=84, 56.8%), followed by Takayasu arteritis (n=21, 14.1%), microscopic polyangiitis (n=15, 10.1%), and polyarteritis nodosa (n=10, 6.8%). Three patients died before a specific diagnosis was made; they were classified as antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis which includes granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly Churg-Strauss syndrome). The characteristics of these patients are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Primary Vasculitis with Upper Gastrointestinal Involvement

Characteristic	Value
Age, yr	49 (13–65)
Male sex	73 (49.3)
Classification of vasculitis
Large-vessel vasculitis
Takayasu arteritis	21 (14.1)
Medium-vessel vasculitis
Polyarteritis nodosa	10 (6.8)
Kawasaki disease	7 (4.7)
Small-vessel vasculitis
ANCA-associated vasculitis	3 (2.0)
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s)	7 (4.7)
Microscopic polyangiitis	15 (10.1)
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss)	1 (0.7)
IgA vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein)	84 (56.8)
Symptoms*	113 (76.3)
Abdominal pain	89 (78.8)
Gastrointestinal bleeding	43 (38.1)
Nausea or vomiting	18 (15.9)
Diarrhea	4 (3.5)

Data are presented as median (interquartile range) or number (%).

ANCA, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody.

^*The sum exceeds 100% because multiple symptoms were possible.

Gastrointestinal symptoms were present in 113 of the patients (76.4%). Abdominal pain was the most common symptom (n=89, 78.8%), and 43 patients (38.1%) had gastrointestinal bleeding such as melena, hematochezia, and hematemesis. Thirty-five patients (23.6%) had systemic symptoms including dyspnea, chest pain, headache, or peripheral edema. Symptoms were improved by the treatment for the vasculitis, and some symptoms even resolved without specific therapy, especially in patients with HSP.

2. Endoscopic findings

Endoscopic examination was performed in advance to the diagnosis of vasculitis was made in 22 cases (14.9%). Otherwise, endoscopic examination was performed in patients with clinical features suspicious of vasculitis or patients already diagnosed as vasculitis. Endoscopic findings included erosion, petechiae, nodular change, edema, submucosal hemorrhage, nodularity, and ulcer (Figs 1–3). Since some of these features can be due to abnormalities of mixed nature, more than one finding could be encountered in a single patient. Nonspecific inflammatory changes such as gastritis, esophagitis, and duodenitis were common (77.7%), however, we did not include these findings as endoscopic manifestations because they are common in the general population and their origin is ill-defined. Erosion and ulcer were striking features of vasculitis, and the second portion of the duodenum and gastric antrum were the most frequent sites involved. Stricture was found in four patients; in three cases in the duodenum, and one case in the jejunum. Endoscopic examination revealed no specific abnormality in six patients. Detailed data on these patients are presented in Table 2.

Fig. 1.

Endoscopic findings of the esophageal involvement of vasculitis. (A) Erosion and petichia. (B) Submucosal hemorrhage. (C) Multiple, large geographic ulcers on the esophageal body.

Fig. 2.

Endoscopic findings of gastric involvement of vasculitis. (A) Multiple erosions on the antrum. (B) Scattered petechia on the greater curvature of the lower body. (C) Edematous mucosa with submucosal hemorrhage on the greater curvature of the high body. (D) Single deep ulcer with elevated margin on the lesser curvature of the antrum. (E) Multiple ulcers with hematins on the lesser curvature of the lower body.

Fig. 3.

Endoscopic findings of duodenal involvement of vasculitis. (A) Multiple erosions on the bulb. (B) Scattered petechia on the bulb. (C) Edematous mucosal fold change on the second portion of the duodenum. (D) Submucosal hemorrhage and circular ulcer on the bulb. (E) Diffuse nodular change of the second portion of the duodenum. (F) Single ulcer on the bulb. (G) Multiple circular ulcers with mucosal hyperemia on the second portion of the duodenum.

Table 2.

Endoscopic Findings of Vasculitis

	Erosion	Petechiae	Edema	Submucosal hemorrhage	Nodularity	Ulcer
						Single	Multiple
Esophagus	1	1	0	1	0	0	6
Stomach
Antrum	48	9	3	2	0	5	13
Body	23	9	3	6	0	5	6
Fundus	6	6	2	3	0	0	1
Duodenum
Bulb	23	3	4	4	1	6	9
2nd portion	24	5	19	13	9	1	28
3rd portion	4	2	9	6	4	0	12
Jejunum	0	0	2	0	0	0	2

Biopsy specimens were obtained in 124 subjects. Histopathologic examination of the biopsy specimens revealed signs of vasculitis in only eight patients (5.4%); seven patients with duodenal involvement of the HSP and one patient with granulomatous angiitis presenting as gastric ulcer (Figs 4 and 5). The median number of biopsy specimens was three in these eight patients. The biopsy specimens of the other patients revealed nonspecific inflammation only.

Fig. 4.

Representative microscopic images of a small bowel segmental resection specimen of a patient with Henoch-Schönlein purpura. (A) Acute and chronic transmural inflammation with hemorrhage and lymphoid hyperplasia are observed (H&E stain, ×200). (B) Neutrophilic infiltration is observed in the small-to-medium sized vessel walls (leukocytoclastic vasculitis) (H&E stain, ×400).

Fig. 5.

Pathological findings in a stomach wedge resection specimen of a patient with allergic granulomatous angiitis. (A) Eosinophilic infiltration is evident in small, medium, and large-sized vessels (eosinophilic vasculitis) (H&E stain, ×40). (B) There is diffuse and marked eosinophilic infiltration in the gastric wall (H&E stain, ×200).

DISCUSSION

In the present study, we investigated the clinical features of primary vasculitis with UGI involvement. Of 148 patients, 113 patients (76.4%) had gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain and gastrointestinal bleeding. Endoscopic examination during diagnosis revealed erosion, petechiae, submucosal hemorrhage or ulcers in 142 (95.9%) of the patients, and the second portion of the duodenum was the site most frequently involved. Endoscopic examination played important role for establishing the diagnosis of vasculitis in only 22 patients (14.9%) and the diagnostic yield of endoscopic biopsy was low.

Gastrointestinal involvement of vasculitis has been reported variously depending on the diagnosis of vasculitis; 50% to 85% for HSP, 14% to 65% for polyarteritis nodosa, 3% to 71% for ANCA-associated vasculitis, and 1% to 15% for Takayasu arteritis.^12–18 Gastrointestinal symptoms were mainly acute abdominal pain, but other symptoms including nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal bleeding can be presenting symptoms.^14,19–21 In addition, gastric outlet obstruction, intussusception, and duodenal necrosis have been reported.^22,23 In our study, the most common primary vasculitis with UGI involvement was HSP (56.8%) and 76.4% of patients with primary vasculitis had gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain being the most common.

The endoscopic findings commonly described in systemic vasculitis are diffuse redness, petechiae, hemorrhagic erosion, nodular change, and ulcer.^16,19,24 The specific appearance of lesions and their site preference are important clues that can help differentiate vasculitis from peptic ulcer or drug-induced ulcer. However, the variable clinical presentation and endoscopic features of UGI involvement of systemic vasculitis, and the rarity of the disease, often result in delayed diagnosis. In one report, duodenum and small intestine were the most frequently involved in patients with HSP, and ulcers were rare.¹³ In contrast, in another report, ulcers in the small bowel including duodenum were frequent in these patients.¹⁹ In our study, the ulcers caused by vasculitis were usually multiple, irregular, and uneven based, and duodenal involvement of the vasculitis usually presented as submucosal hemorrhage, mucosal congestion, and multiple ulcers in the second portion of the duodenum. Recognizing these features in such clinical settings may provide clues to the diagnosis of vasculitis. However, the role of endoscopic examination is still limited.

The clinical presentation of gastrointestinal vasculitis may be life-threatening because of complications such as severe ischemia, infarction, and perforation. Gastrointestinal involvement of systemic vasculitis has been reported to be associated with severe complications and poor outcomes especially in patients with polyarteritis nodosa, microscopic angiitis, and granulomatosis with polyangiitis.^14,25–28 Therefore, accurate diagnosis and early treatment is important to avoid fatal outcomes, and endoscopic examination helps to define the site and extent of involvement and to assess prognosis. However, the diagnosis of vasculitis is difficult and endoscopic findings do not always correlate with presenting symptoms. In addition, endoscopic biopsy has low sensitivity to diagnose vasculitis.^3,29,30 In one study, biopsy specimens were taken from 23 patients, and none of the UGI biopsies showed evidence of vasculitis whereas lower gastrointestinal tract biopsies revealed signs of vasculitis in three of six patients.²¹ In agreement with these reports, the diagnostic yield of endoscopic biopsy was 5.4% in this study. This is because most biopsies are limited to the superficial mucosa.^10,12,20,31 Endoscopic examination could not be used to exclude UGI involvement of primary vasculitis but to exclude other diseases.³² In addition, the diagnosis of vasculitis should be made with consideration of all clinical and pathologic information, and neither of these findings should be interpreted in isolation.

Our study has several limitations. First, there may be a selection bias because endoscopic examination and endoscopic biopsies were performed upon the decision of the attending physician. In addition, the large proportion of patients were HSP, and this could lead to bias. Second, many factors can be associated with the occurrence of inflammatory changes and ulcers, including Helicobacter pylori infection and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Finally, since the study was retrospective study, most patients did not undergo follow-up endoscopy, and we could not investigate the clinical course of these lesions.

In conclusion, the diagnosis of vasculitis with UGI involvement is difficult. With the wider use of endoscopy, the combination of clinical or radiological features with endoscopic findings may help to make accurate diagnoses; however, the diagnostic yield of endoscopic biopsy is low.