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Gastrointestinal manifestations are common across all hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) genotypes. However, they are poorly specific, and their recognition as part of ATTRv is difficult, resulting in misdiagnosis with more common conditions. Moreover, delays in diagnosis occur because of fragmented knowledge, a shortage of centers of excellence and specialists dedicated to ATTRv management, and the scarce involvement of gastroenterologists in multidisciplinary teams. A group of Italian gastroenterologists with experience in the management of ATTRv took part in a project aimed at assessing the awareness of ATTRv among the community of Italian gastroenterologists through an online survey and providing education about practical aspects of ATTRv management. Survey results reported low participation, and very few patients with ATTRv were cared for by gastroenterologists. This highlights the need for greater attention to rare diseases in gastroenterology and emphasizes increasing awareness of ATTRv and diagnostic suspicion. Based on the experts' recommendations, a diagnosis of ATTRv should be suspected when at least one of the 'red flags' is detected. Subsequently, it is suggested to promptly ask for genetic testing and exclude a serum and urinary monoclonal protein, even before the detection of amyloid in biopsy samples, particularly in non-endemic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We document a unique presentation of light chain (AL) amyloidosis in a 62-year-old man exhibiting as acute hematemesis and chronic abdominal discomfort. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy disclosed marked thickening of gastric and duodenal folds, gastroduodenal nodularity, and friable ulcerations. Biopsy confirmed amyloidosis. Subsequent investigations ratified a diagnosis of systemic AL amyloidosis with cardiac involvement. Initiation of the cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) regimen, along with tafamidis and doxycycline for cardiac pathology, led to substantial improvement of abdominal symptoms. This case highlights the variability in amyloidosis presentations and the importance of early diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal manifestations are common during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection. They can occur before respiratory symptoms, resulting in a diagnostic delay and an increased risk of disease transmission. The current study reports major gastrointestinal manifestations as initial symptoms of COVID-19. This prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional, and single-center study of 713 cases was conducted in a field hospital in Morocco over a 5-week period from June 21 to July 25, 2020. The average age of our patients was 31.95 years. Clinically, on admission, anorexia was the main symptom, present in 32.3% of patients. Gastrointestinal manifestations were present in 14.9% of patients, including watery diarrhea in 8.6% of cases, nausea and/or vomiting in 4.6% of cases, and abdominal pain in 1.6% of cases. Six hundred thirty-two patients were treated in accordance with one of the two therapeutic protocols recommended by the National Ministry of Health. The treatment-related effects that occurred in 61.4% of patients were primarily digestive in 55.3% of cases. In multivariate analysis, following adjustment of the studied parameters, only the presence of gastrointestinal manifestations (odds ratio [OR]: 1.478 confidence interval [CI]: 1.286–1.698; p < 0.001) and treatment side effects (OR = 1.069, CI: 1.020–1.119, p = 0.005) altered the rate of negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on day 10. Gastrointestinal manifestations are common during COVID-19 and seem to be linked to a longer duration of disease. SARS-CoV-2 (the causative virus of COVID-19) can persist in the digestive tract, with the possibility of fecal–oral transmission. Therefore, hygiene is extremely important, especially handwashing and strict precautions when performing gastrointestinal endoscopy and handling stools from infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a pandemic. As of February 2021, there were 107 million COVID-19 cases worldwide. As a comparison, there are approximately 38 million people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) worldwide. The coexistence of both epidemics, and the syndemic effect of both viruses could lead to a delirious impact both at individual and community levels. Many intersecting points were found between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, and HIV; among which, gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations are the most notable. GI manifestations represent a common clinical presentation in both HIV and SARS-CoV-2. The emergence of GI symptoms as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection provides a new dynamic to COVID-19 diagnosis, management, and infection control measures, and adds an additional diagnostic challenge in case of coinfection with HIV. The presence of GI manifestations in PLHIV during the COVID-19 pandemic could be referred to HIV enteropathy, presence of opportunistic infection, adverse effect of antiretrovirals, or coinfection with COVID-19. Thus, it is important to exclude SARS-CoV-2 in patients who present with new-onset GI manifestations, especially in PLHIV, to avoid the risk of disease transmission during endoscopic interventions. Structural similarities between both viruses adds a valuable intersecting point, which has mutual benefits in the management of both viruses. These similarities led to the hypothesis that antiretrovirals such as lopinavir/Rironavir have a role in the management of COVID-19, which was the target of our search strategy using the available evidence. These similarities may also facilitate the development of an efficient HIV vaccine in the future using the advances in COVID-19 vaccine development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is an uncommon neoplastic proliferation of mast cells involving single or multiple organs. The skin is most commonly involved, presenting as urticaria pigmentosa, followed by bone marrow involvement, which is the commonest extracutaneous. The gastrointestinal tract is reported to be involved in about 70–80% of cases of systemic mastocytosis. The pattern and extent of mucosal involvement and the histological appearance are now becoming clear as there is heightened awareness by clinicians of the possibility of the gastrointestinal tract being affected by the disease and increased endoscopic procedures. The symptoms appear non-specific with abdominal pain as the leading complaint followed by nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Cases of systemic mastocytosis are being diagnosed by mucosal biopsies with gastrointestinal involvement as the presenting pathology. A case of systemic mastocytosis is described diagnosed on gastrointestinal symptoms and endoscopic mucosal biopsies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronaviruses have caused three global outbreaks in the last 20 years, which include Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) caused by SARS-CoV (SARS-CoV-1), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) by MERS-CoV and Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) due to SARS-CoV-2. These outbreaks share many similarities, including clinical presentation, transmission, and management. Although respiratory manifestations are responsible for most of the morbidity and mortality in these conditions, extra-pulmonary manifestations such as gastrointestinal symptoms are also increasingly recognized as important symptoms. Important gastrointestinal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Hepatic manifestations such as abnormal aminotransferases are also noted in these patients. Early identification of GI symptoms is crucial as some patients can present only with GI manifestations in the absence of pulmonary symptoms. Furthermore, patients with diarrhea have tested positive for viral RNA in the stool. This has been reported even after the resolution of respiratory symptoms and can extend up to many days from the onset of symptoms. Because of this phenomenon, there is a theoretical risk of fecal-oral transmission and the potential spread of the disease. Though GI symptoms are frequently observed, understanding the pathogenesis of these symptoms is crucial, as it can not only of public health importance but could also identify infected patients early in the spread. Understanding the different GI and hepatic manifestations with underlying mechanisms of symptoms can assist in the therapeutic management of these patients. In this article, we summarize various GI and hepatic manifestations with their prevalence, underlying pathophysiology with emphasis on stool positivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]