Pathology of different portions of the gastrointestinal tract in children with Gilbert’s syndrome

<p>Gilbert’s syndrome is a common genetic disease caused by deficiency of the liver enzyme UDP-glucuronyl transferase. The objective of the investigation is to study pathology of different portions of the gastrointestinal tract in children with Gilbert’s syndrome. A total of 182 children aged 3 to 17 years with Gilbert’s syndrome, who had been admitted to the clinic with the signs of jaundice and different gastroenterological complaints and symptoms, were examined. According to comprehensive examination results, among the gastrointestinal diseases in the patients, there was a preponderance duodenal injuries (41,5% of all diagnoses), there were less common injuries of the stomach (23,7%), esophagus (20%), and large bowel (14,8%). There was an age-specific relationship of the rate of erosive-ulcerative lesion of the upper gastrointestinal tract: erosions and ulcers were much more frequently encountered in children older than 10 years, predominantly in 14-17-year olds. Thus, the duodenum has been established to be most commonly affected in children with Gilbert’s syndrome. The children with this syndrome belong to a group at increased risk for gastrointestinal tract diseases. It is important to initiate measures as early as possible to prevent gastrointestinal tract diseases in children with Gilbert’s syndrome.