M1189 Collagenous Sprue: Clinical Characteristics, Response to Steroids, and Prognosis

Abstract

Background: Collagenous sprue (CS) is a very rare cause of severe malabsorption with an enteropathy that is characterized by villous atrophy and a distinctive band of subepithelial collagen deposition. A poor outcome has been reported historically. Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis in a contemporary cohort of patients with CS. Methods: We included cases with biopsy-proven CS evaluated at the Mayo Clinic Results: 15 patients (80% females) with a median age of 67 years (range, 53-83) were included. The clinical manifestations were diarrhea (100%), loss of weight (93%), and abdominal pain (14%). Hospitalizationwas required because severe diarrhea in 9 (64%) patients. Hypoalbuminemia and anemia were evident in 9 (64%) and 7 (50%) patients, respectively. Humanleukocyte antigen genes DQ2 or DQ8 were present in 12 (80%) patients (DQ2+ single dose [n=8], DQ2+ double dose [n=3], and DQ2+/DQ8+ [n=1]). Celiac antibodies were present in only 1 patient. A prior diagnosis of celiac disease was evident in 7 (47%) patients. Histologically, all cases had both the abnormal collagen deposition and some degree of villous atrophy. Aberrant (clonal) intraepithelial lymphocytes were detected in 1 (of 12) patients tested by both immunostaining and T-cell clonality analysis. Associated disorders were collagenous gastritis (n=4), collagenous colitis (n=4), small-intestine bacterial overgrowth (n=4), lymphocytic colitis (n=2), lymphocytic gastritis (n=1), autoimmune hepatitis (n=1), and hyposplenism (n=1). All patients received treatment with a combination of a strict gluten-free diet and steroids such as budesonide 9mg/day (n=12), prednisone 30-40 mg/day (n=2) and dexamethasone 8 mg/day (n=1). Parenteral nutrition was necessary in 11 (79%) patients. One patient developed enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma during followup and received a combination of nitrogen mustard and methylprednisolone. Clinical followup after treatment was available in 12 (92%) patients (median time = 16 months; range, 172), disappearance of diarrhea was observed in 11 with complete histologic remission documented in one case. Three patients died during follow-up because of emaciation, enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma, and aspiration pneumonia, respectively. Conclusions: We report the largest case series of CS. Treatment with a combination of gluten-free diet and steroids (especially budesonide) was useful to control symptoms in most patients; however, length of follow-up was limited so far to a few months in the majority of our patients. CS was associated with collagen deposition in other organs, autoimmune conditions, and lymphoma.