Diagnostic and Treatment Options for Severe IBD in Female X-CGD Carriers with Non-random X-inactivation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

X-linked chronic granulomatous disease [X-CGD] due to hemizygous mutations in CYBB is characterised by invasive bacterial and fungal infections and granulomatous inflammation. Inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] is an additional or isolated manifestation. Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation [alloHSCT] is the standard curative treatment. X-CGD carriers are usually healthy but those with non-random X-chromosome inactivation [XCI] may develop infectious or autoinflammatory manifestations.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We report on two female patients with severe treatment-refractory Crohn-like IBD manifesting at age 23 and 8 years, respectively. NADPH-oxidase activity testing and molecular genetics proved X-CGD carrier status with non-random XCI. As in CGD, histopathology from colonic biopsies disclosed pigment-laden macrophages and reduced CD68(+) macrophages. Following submyelo-ablative conditioning, the younger patient was treated with alloHSCT at age 20 years. She came into remission within 3 months after transplantation and shows complete mucosal healing after 16 months off all medications.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that children and young adults with refractory IBD should mandatorily be tested for CGD. AlloHSCT should be considered as curative therapy in severely diseased female carriers of X-CGD with non-random XCI.