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L’adenocarcinoma dell’intestino tenue (SBA) è una neoplasia estremamente rara nella popolazione generale. La letteratura suggerisce che la malattia celiaca (MC) sia associata ad un aumentato rischio di sviluppare un SBA, ma non ci siano dati sulle caratteristiche di questa variante associata a MC. Lo scopo dello studio è consistito nel chiarire la prevalenza del SBA in una coorte soggetti con MC, definendo le loro caratteristiche cliniche, istologiche ed immunologiche. Sono stati studiati retrospettivamente (1995-2014) tutti i casi di SBA trovati in associazione a MC. Le biopsie dei casi identificati sono state valutate attraverso indagini immunoistochimiche impiegando anticorpi monoclonali che riconoscono markers epiteliali intestinali (e.g. MUC2, CDX2 e CD10) e gastrici (e.g. MUC5AC e MUC6). Sono inoltre state ricercate eventuali mutazioni di KRAS, NRAS e BRAF. Sono stati identificati 5 SBA su 779 pazienti con MC (0,65%), tutte di sesso femminile età media 53. La tipizzazione dell'HLA ha mostrato un DQ2+ in tutti i casi. Al momento della diagnosi di SBA il quadro clinico di questi pazienti era caratterizzato da diarrea in 3 casi e da episodi subocclusivi negli altri due casi. La più frequente localizzazione anatomica dell’SBA era il digiuno. In nessuno dei 5 casi lo SBA è stato preceduto da una malattia celiaca refrattaria. L’esame istologico eseguito mostrava la presenza in tre casi di un carcinoma di alto grado, scarsamente differenziato (grado III-IV). La sopravvivenza a 5 anni è risultata molto migliore rispetto al SBA sporadico. KRAS è stato trovato mutato in 2/5 casi. L’ SBA associato a MC sembra avere caratteristiche cliniche, istologiche e fenotipiche differenti rispetto al SBA sporadico. In particolare: a) il più frequente coinvolgimento del sesso femminile; b) l’età di esordio più giovane; c) la localizzazione digiunale; d) una migliore prognosi associata a positività per CDX2; e) presenza di neoplasie con KRAS mutato., The small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a very rare neoplasia in the general population. Previous studies suggest that celiac disease (CD) is associated with an increased risk in developing a SBA. Unfortunatly, there are no information about the features of this cancer when associated with CD. The aims of the present study were to shed light on the prevalence of SBA in a CD patients cohort and to define its clinical, histological and immunological features. We retrospectively investigated all the cases of SBAs in a cohort of CD patients during a 19 years period (1995-2014). Biopsies from selected cases were analyzed by immunohistochemestry, looking for intestinal and gastric markers, using monoclonal antibodies against MUC2, CDX2, CD10, MUC5AC, MUC6. Moreover, we checked the presence of KRAS, NRAS and BRAF mutations. We identified 5 cases of SBA in a population of 779 CD patients (0,65%). All the SBA found were in female patients with a mean age of 53 years. The HLA genotyping revealed a positivity for the DQ2+ in all cases. At onset SBA showed a clinical picture characterized by diarrhoea in 3 cases and subocclusion in 2 cases. Refractory CD never preceded the onset of a SBA. Th histologica evaluation revealed a high grade, poorly differentiated neoplasia in 3 cases (G3-G4). Overall survival at 5 years was extremely better than that of the sporadic SBA. A mutation of KRAS was found in 2/5 cases. In conclusion, the SBA associated with CD showed different features in comparison to the sporadic one, in particular: a) a female gender predominace, b) a lower median age at diagnosis, c) a preferred jejunal localization, d) a better prognosis (in particular when associated witha CDX2 positivity) and e) for the finding of KRAS mutations.

Introduction: Non-coeliac gluten/wheat sensitivity (NCG/WS) is a syndrome characterized by intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms occurring a few hours or days after the ingestion of gluten and wheat proteins in patients testing negative for coeliac disease and wheat allergy. Areas covered: The present review deals with recent scientific acquisitions of this gluten-related syndrome, including pathogenetic mechanisms, clinical picture, symptom score, biomarkers and double-blind placebo-controlled trial for diagnosis, and treatment. The methodology used was a literature search on NCG/WS using Medline and Premedline from 1970 to August 2016. Expert commentary: We discussed the pathogenesis of symptom generation and altered gut physiology in NCG/WS. Possible mechanisms include innate and adaptive immune activation, impaired intestinal epithelial barrier and changes in gut microbiome. These interlinked factors may be exploited for their clinical relevance as possible biomarkers. A systemic immune response to microbial and wheat antigens, together with intestinal cell damage, occurs in patients with NCG/WS. Due to the lack of established biomarkers, it is mandatory to validate the diagnosis of the syndrome by means of a well-defined work-up involving dietary challenge. Finally, dietary and other therapeutic indications have been thoroughly reviewed.

Background & Aims: Individuals with potential celiac disease have serologic and genetic markers of the disease with little or no damage to the small intestinal mucosa. We performed a prospective study to learn more about disease progression in these people. Methods: We collected data from 77 adults (59 female; median age, 33 years) diagnosed with potential celiac disease (on the basis of serology and HLA type) at Bologna University in Italy from 2004 through 2013. The subjects had normal or slight inflammation of the small intestinal mucosa. Clinical, laboratory, and histologic parameters were evaluated at diagnosis and during a 3-year follow-up period. Results: Sixty-one patients (46 female; median age, 36 years) showed intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms, whereas the remaining 16 (13 female; median age, 21 years) were completely asymptomatic at diagnosis. All subjects tested positive for immunoglobulin A endomysial antibody and tissue transglutaminase antibody, except for 1 patient with immunoglobulin A deficiency; 95% of patients were carriers of HLA-DQ2. Duodenal biopsies from 26% patients had a Marsh score of 0, and 74% had a Marsh score of 1. A higher proportion of symptomatic patients had autoimmune disorders (36%) and antinuclear antibodies (41%) than asymptomatic patients (5% and 12.5%, respectively), and symptomatic patients were of older age at diagnosis (P