Atypical late-onset severe gastritis in immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, and X-linked (IPEX) syndrome: 2 case reports.

RATIONALE: The immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, and X-linked (IPEX) syndrome is a rare disorder that most often manifests in the early stages of life. IPEX syndrome with a late onset, presenting with severe gastritis has rarely been reported.

PATIENT CONCERNS: Two male adolescents presented with recurrent vomiting, severe malnutrition, and growth retardation due to severe gastritis.

DIAGNOSES: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy of the 2 patients revealed rare presentations of severe gastritis with multiple ulcers and stenosis of the pylorus. Next-generation sequencing revealed 2 novel variants in gene FOXP3 in the patients who were diagnosed with the IPEX syndrome.

INTERVENTIONS: Both patients were treated with a high calorie formular enteral nutritional therapy. In addition, the pylorus of patient 1 was enlarged by balloon dilation, while patient 2 was treated with mercaptopurine and low dose prednisone.

OUTCOMES: Symptoms and nutritional status of the patients improved after treatment.

LESSONS: Chronic severe gastritis with stenosis of the pylorus could be an atypical manifestation of the IPEX syndrome. The use of next-generation sequencing is highly suitable for the diagnosis of atypical IPEX syndromes.