Congenital Absence Of Ganglion Cells Research Articles

A Case Report on 2 years Child: Hirschprung’s Disease

Introduction: Hirschsprung's disease is the most common cause of large intestinal obstructing in neonates. Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital anomaly caused by migratory failure of neural crest cells leading to abnormal innervations of the bowel .The defect begins in the internal and sphincter and extends proximally for a variable length of gut. Hirschprung's disease is a disorder of the gut caused due to congenital absence of ganglion cells in the sub-mucosal and myenteric plexus of intestine. This disease is also known as megacolon or congenital Aganglionic megacolon. Case presentation: A 2 years old male child, known case of Hirschprung’s disease, was brought to AVBRH for further management. As narrated by the mother, the child was not passing stool since birth. There was no history of abdominal distention, vomiting or fever. The child pass the stool with the help of enema which was given to the child in the morning and evening. Mast. Devansh has past history of NICU stay. In View of not passing stools, USG of abdomen and pelvis done. Endorectal pull through surgery was done on 4/02/2021 under general anesthesia. No any past surgical history. There is a past history of rectal biopsy done in 1 1/2 month of age. Conclusion:The patient was admitted in AVBRH for further management. Then the report mainly focused on surgical management and quality nursing care due to which patient was discharged without any further complication and satisfaction.

Bishop Koop procedure in Hirschsprung disease in a two year old child: Case report

Abstract The Hirschsprung disease characterised by congenital absence of ganglion cells, is confirmed by sero muscluar biopsies of the involved bowel, hence the initial leveling colostomy/ileostomy followed by subsequent definitive pull through procedure. However only the full circumference of the pulled down bowel having ganglion cells in all four quadrants is confirmatory. Histopathological disparity, differences or errors in diagnosis can arise in both sero muscular and full circumference full thickness biopsy samples, challenging the surgeon in further management of the these children; such a rare case has been described here with is its successful surgical management. Bishop koop procedure classically described in meconium ileus can be attempted in such confusing cases before contemplating major surgical intervention.

Diagnostic Algorithm in Hirschsprung's Disease: Focus on Immunohistochemistry Markers.

Hirschsprung disease (HD) is caused by the congenital absence of ganglion cells in the distal bowel (aganglionosis). Rectal biopsy is considered important for its diagnosis. The aim of this study was to apply immunohistochemical staining using a minimal set of antibodies and develop an algorithm that will assist in the diagnosis of HD. Rectal or colonic biopsies were performed in patients with HD (n=26) or patients treated for other bowel diseases (n=34). Immunohistochemical staining was performed for MAP1b, peripherin, S-100, calretinin, NSE, bcl-2 and CD56 proteins. Staining for CD56, S-100, peripherin and calretinin facilitated the identification of ganglion cells. The use of CD56 and S-100 antibodies together resulted in the highest rate of ganglion cell staining intensity (94%). We propose a practical diagnostic algorithm with the application of CD56 and S-100 antibodies that can be used in clinical practice in children suspected of Hirschsprung's disease.

Is Hirschsprung disease a purely neurological condition? A study of the Actin G2 smooth muscle gene in Hirschsprung disease

BackgroundHirschsprung disease is a functional obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract due to the congenital absence of ganglion cells in the intermyenteric plexuses of the distal bowel. Gastrointestinal motility requires intact muscular layers as well as neural network connection to function properly. The Actin G2 gene is the main gene encoding actin gamma 2; a smooth muscle actin found in enteric tissues. AimThis study of the Actin G2 gene in patients with Hirschsprung disease explores a possible molecular basis abnormal muscle function and post-surgical pseudo-obstruction in a group of patients. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first report confirming structural muscle deficits in Hirschsprung disease. Patients and methodsEthical permission and informed consent were obtained. DNA was extracted from whole blood samples in 10 patients with histologically proven HSCR patients. PCR amplification of the ACTG2 gene, were subjected to semi-automated bi-directional sequencing analysis. Sequencing results were analyzed using FinchTV Sequence Alignment Software (http:/en.biosoft.net) to read chromatogram files. Further predicting bioinformatic investigation was obtained by PolyPhen 2 software to evaluate the significance of the observed amino acid changes. ResultsTen new patients with similar HSCR phenotypes were prospectively investigated for variation in the Actin G2 gamma gene (ACTG2) variations. The results of ACTG2 gene analysis showing variation in exons 5, 8 and 10 of the ACTG2 gene in 7 of them (64%). The c.109C > G S345 L was the most frequent occurring in 6 of the 10 patients (54%), the c.171 A > A K119E in 2 and the significant c.108 T > G W357G variation in exon 10 (1 patient) Four patients had a combination of different variants in different exons which were less significant. Allele frequency on a control sample of the South African population showed no comparable pathology link scores (http://gnomad.broadinstitute.org/). Bioinformatic in silico modeling showed that the residue replacements in both variants (Lys to Glu and Trp to Gly) are highly non-conservative and variation can alter interactions within the protein conformation. ConclusionsThe Actin smooth muscle gene showed variation in 64% of samples, indicating a reason for abnormal functioning muscle in many HSCR patients. Hirschsprung disease is part of a complex spectrum which also includes smooth muscle. Level of EvidenceVI

Advances in understanding functional variations in the Hirschsprung disease spectrum (variant Hirschsprung disease).

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a fairly well understood congenital, genetically based functional obstruction due to the congenital absence of ganglion cells in the distal bowel. However, although over 90% of Hirschsprung cases conform to the normally accepted histological diagnostic criteria, it has become increasingly clear that in addition to HSCR, there is a group of functional disturbances relating to a number of other congenital neurodysplastic conditions causing some degree of gastrointestinal tract malfunction. Although these represent a variety of possibly separate conditions of the enteric nervous system, this spectrum it would appear to be also influenced by similar developmental processes. The term "variant Hirschsprung" is commonly used to describe these conditions, but ganglion cells are mostly present if abnormal in number and distribution. These conditions are a problem group being amongst the most difficult to diagnose and treat with possible practical and legal consequences. The problem appears to be possibly one of definition which has proven difficult in the relative paucity of normal values, especially when correlated to age and gestation. It is the purpose of this paper to review the current position on these conditions and to explore possible shared common pathogenetic and genetic mechanisms. This article explores those conditions where a similar pathogenetic mechanisms to HSCR can be demonstrated (e.g. hypoganglionosis) as well as other neural features, which appear to represent separate conditions possibly linked to certain syndromes.

Hirschsprung's Disease in the Preterm Infant: Implications for Diagnosis and Outcome

Hirschsprung's disease (HD), congenital absence of ganglion cells, is considered uncommon in preterm infants. The aim was to describe the frequency, presentation, and surgical outcomes of preterm infants with HD. A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all patients diagnosed with HD from 2002 to 2012 at a single children's hospital. Clinical presentation and surgical outcomes were obtained for term (37 weeks of gestation or greater) and preterm infants. One hundred twenty-nine subjects with HD were identified, 24 (19%) preterm and 105 (81%) term. Preterm infants were more likely to be diagnosed after 30 days of life (66.7 vs 37.1%, P < 0.01; median age 2.9 vs 0.3 months, P < 0.05) and to have associated major congenital anomalies (45.8 vs 20.0%, P < 0.01). Fewer preterm infants had primary pull-through operations (45.8 vs 76.2%, P < 0.005). Preterm infants were more likely to have an episode of Hirschsprung's-associated enterocolitis (45.8 vs 24.0%, P < 0.05) but were not more likely to die from any cause (8.3 vs 5.8%, P = 0.64). HD may be more common in preterm infants than previously recognized, and increased comorbidities in these patients may lead to delayed diagnosis and increased morbidity. HD should be considered in the preterm infant presenting with a bowel obstruction, especially when accompanied by associated anomalies.

Hipoalbuminemia prabedah sebagai faktor prognostik enterokolitis pascabedah penderita megakolon kongenital (Hirschsprung’s disease)

Background: Hirschsprung’s disease or congenital megacolon is the congenital absence of ganglion cells in the colon. The rectum is always involved and in 90% of patients the abnormality is confined to the rectum and sigmoid. Absence of ganglion cells prevents peristalsis, resulting in functional obstruction. The success of Hirschsprung’s treatment depends on many factors such as age at the time of operation, body weight, hemoglobin levels, albumin levels, length of operation, length of stay and other prognostic factors. Post operative enterocolitis and other complications still represent as the problem wich often are faced by pediatric surgeons.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of albumin levels on postoperative enterocolitis in children presenting with congenital megacolon.Method: We conducted an ambidirectional cohort study involving children presenting with Hirschsprung’s disease in Dr. Sardjito, Panti Rapih and Permata Husada hospitals in Yogyakarta city from January 2005 to December 2010. All children had been operated using ERPT and PSNRHD methods. The subjects were classified into normoalbuminemia (&gt;3.5 g/dl) and hypoalbuminemia (≤3.5 g/dl). The effect of albumin levels on postoperative enterocolitis were indicated by relative risk and 95% confidence interval.Results: Out of 104 children with Hirschsprung’s disease, 53 (51%) were hypoalbuminemic and 51 (49%) were normoalbuminemia. Postoperative enterocolitis was found in 18 (17.3%) children, 11/18 (61.1%) of them were hypoalbuminemia, whereas 7/18 (38.9%) were normoalbuminemia. Albumin levels were not significant prognostic factor for postoperative enterocolitis in children with congenital megacolon (RR=1.51; 95% CI:0.64-3.60; p=0.34). Conclusion: The albumin levels are not prognostic factor for postoperative enterocolitis in children with congenital megacolon.

Skip segment Hirschsprung’s disease: a systematic review

Hirschsprung's disease is characterised by the congenital absence of ganglion cells beginning in the distal rectum and extending proximally for varying distances. 'Zonal aganglionosis' is a phenomenon involving a zone of aganglionosis occurring within normally innervated intestine. 'Skip segment' Hirschsprung's disease (SSHD) involves a 'skip area' of normally ganglionated intestine, surrounded proximally and distally by aganglionosis. While Hirschsprung's disease is believed to be the result of incomplete craniocaudal migration of neural crest-derived cells, the occurrence of SSHD has no clear embryological explanation. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of SSHD, reported in the literature between 1954 and 2009, in order to determine the clinical characteristics of this rare entity and its significance. The first reported case of SSHD was published in 1954. A systematic review of SSHD cases in the literature, from 1954 to 2009, was carried out using the electronic database 'Pubmed'. Detailed information was recorded regarding the age, gender, presenting symptoms and location of the skip segment in each patient. 24 cases of SSHD have been reported in the literature to date. 18/24 (75%) of these cases were males and 6/24 (25%) were females. Of these, 22/24 (92%) were cases of total colonic aganglionosis (TCA), and 2/24 (8%) were rectosigmoid Hirschsprung's disease. Of the 22 TCA cases, 9 (41%) had a skip segment in the transverse colon, 6 (27%) in the ascending colon, 2 (9%) in the caecum and 5 (23%) had multiple skip segments. In both rectosigmoid Hirschsprung's disease cases, the skip segment was in the sigmoid colon. Overall, the length of the skip segment was variable, with the entire transverse colon ganglionated in some cases. SSHD occurs predominantly in patients with TCA. The existence of a skip area of normally innervated colon in TCA may influence surgical management, enabling surgeons to preserve and use the ganglionated skip area during pull-through operations.

Anomalies d’expression de la synaptophysine dans la maladie de Hirschsprung

Hirschsprung's disease is defined by the congenital absence of ganglion cells in enteric plexuses. Immunostaining of synaptophysin after formalin fixation may be used to identify hyperplasia of nerve fibers and rarefaction of neuromuscular junctions in Hirschsprung's disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate semi-quantitatively the expression of synaptophysin in Hirschsprung's disease, in correlation with morphologic features. This retrospective study included 3 controls, 42 surgical rectal biopsies performed for suspicion of Hirschsprung's disease in children presenting with lower digestive occlusion or severe chronic constipation, including 18 Hirschsprung's disease, and 23 surgical specimens of Hirschsprung's disease. In the absence of Hirschsprung's disease, synaptophysin-positive fibers were numerous but thin in the muscularis mucosae, thin and scarce in the mucosa and submucosa. Neuromuscular junctions were thin and numerous in the muscularis propria. In Hirschsprung's disease, synaptophysin-positive fibers were coarse, and increased in number on each side of the muscularis mucosae. Plexuses were enlarged, weakly stained, and associated in the connective tissue of the muscularis propria with coarse and intensely stained fibers. In conclusion, staining for synaptophysin could be useful to demonstrate abnormalities of enteric innervation in rectal biopsies performed for suspected Hirschsprung's disease in the absence of acetylcholinesterase staining on frozen sections, in transmural biopsies performed for guiding surgery in Hirschsprung's disease, and in cases of extensive Hirschsprung's disease.

SOX10 is abnormally expressed in aganglionic bowel of Hirschsprung's disease infants

BACKGROUNDThe primary pathology of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is a congenital absence of ganglion cells in the caudal most gut. The spastic aganglionic bowel is often innervated by a network of...

Megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome: bladder distension and pyelectasis in the fetus without anatomic ooutflow obstruction

We report a case of a 46,XY male infant with a history of normal amniotic fluid levels who was delivered by elective cesarean section at 38.5 weeks’ gestation because of progressive bladder distension, hydroureteronephrosis, and what was thought to be a dilated posterior urethra. The child died at 19 days of age of cardiovascular complications. The autopsy revealed megacystis, bilateral megaureters and pyelocaliectasis, congenital absence of ganglion cells in the bladder wall, renal dysplasia, and a microcolon. No dilation or anatomic obstruction of the posterior urethra was found. These findings strongly suggest the diagnosis of megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome. We discuss the ultrasound findings of in utero bladder distension with hydronephrosis and one of its rare etiologies.

Hirschprung's disease.

Current evidence on the pathogenesis of Hirschprung's disease, then, favours the 'abnormal microenvironment' hypothesis wherein the developing and migrating normal neural crest cells confront a segmentally abnormal and hostile microenvironment in the colon. This hypothesis would account both for the congenital absence of ganglion cells in the wall of colon and also for the range of enteric neuronal abnormalities encountered including neuronal dysplasia, hypoganglionosis, and zonal aganglionosis. The abnormal constitution of the mesenchymal and basement membrane extracellular matrix in the affected segment of colon is presumably genetically determined and further understanding of the pathogenesis of this disorder will emerge as molecular geneticists characterise the specific genes and gene products associated with Hirschprung's disease. Advances in this field should permit gene probes to be developed to facilitate prenatal and postnatal diagnosis.

Routine use of the nitric oxide stain in the differential diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease

Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is defined as a congenital absence of ganglion cells in the distal bowel. Functionally, there is a loss of enteric neuromuscular inhibition. Inhibitory intestinal innervation includes extrinsic nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) nerves. Nitric oxide (NO) is proposed to be a NANC neurotransmitter. Sites of NO synthesis can be localized using a NO-dependent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase histochemical assay. We present a study of the distribution of NO neural elements in patients with HD. Routine hematoxylin-eosin (HE) histology as well as histochemical localization of NO synthase activity was carried out on fixed laminae and sectioned tissue of infant colon. NO synthase positive nerve cells and fibers were found throughout the wall of the proximal ganglionated colon. In the myenteric plexus disposition of these nerves parallels the known NANC innervation. “Aganglionic” distal colon displayed disrupted ganglia and increased nerve fibers. Selective preservation of NO synthesizing neurons was also seen. Punctate labeling of an apparent nonneuronal origin was also noted on the surface of arterioles. NO stain simplifies the pathological diagnosis of HD. The presence of NO positive nerve cells in HD suggests that aganglionosis is a misnomer. The lack of characteristic HE findings in other forms of neuronal intestinal dysplasia indicates the need for routine simple, more sensitive neural staining of colonic biopsies in selected infants with constipation.

Acquired aganglionosis: A rare occurrence following pull-through procedures for Hirschsprung's disease

Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is a neurogenic form of intestinal obstruction characterized by a congenital absence of ganglion cells in the submucosal and myenteric plexuses. Acquired aganglionosis (AAG) is a rare condition that may occur following various pull-through procedures for HD. This report describes five boys with acquired aganglionosis. In all cases, the presence of normal ganglion cells was confirmed on review of biopsies of the pull-through segments at the initial operation. The original pull-through procedure included Soave (2), Duhamel (2), and Swenson (1) operations. Three procedures were initially performed at other institutions. Recurrent symptoms including abdominal distention, obstipation, enterocolitis, and failure to thrive developed 7, 11, 12, 18, and 30 months postoperatively (mean, 15.6 months). The diagnosis of AAG was delayed 1.5 to 9 years after the onset of recurrent symptoms. Full column barium enema studies revealed a transition zone or narrow area in the rectosigmoid or descending colon in four children. Repeat full thickness rectal biopsies at 3.0 cm above the anal verge in the pull-through segment confirmed the absence of ganglion cells in each case. Two children (post Swenson and Duhamel) were successfully revised with a Swenson procedure. Two additional children (post Soave and Duhamel) were successfully treated with extended posterior anomyomectomy procedures. The remaining boy now has a preliminary colostomy and is awaiting a second procedure. Vascular compromise of the distal bowel segment at the time of the initial pull-through procedure may contribute to the selective loss of ganglion cells postoperatively as neural tissues are most sensitive to hypoxia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiac achalasia in childhood.

Summary Cardiac achalasia is a disorder not unknown in the paediatric age-group and may occur even in the neonatal period. This disorder should, therefore, be considered in all cases presenting with persistent vomiting, as well as in those with chronic respiratory disease in whom more common causes have been excluded. It is almost universally accepted that the disorder results from a disturbed function of ganglion cells in the distal oesophagus, as the disease has been reproduced in laboratory animals by denervation of the distal oesophagus. The exact pathogenesis of this degenerative change is not well understood. However, in at least some of the cases congenital absence of the ganglion cells may be responsible for this functional disturbance. This is inferred from the fact that the disease may be found in association with Hirschsprung disease, in which there is a congenital absence of ganglion cells in the terminal colon. Moreover, the occurrence of the disease in the neonatal period itself favours a congenital lesion. Surgery was preferred to other forms of treatment in the paediatric age-group in view of the reported equivocal response to mechanical dilatation and pre-disposition of children to respiratory complications. The results of surgery were satisfactory.