Abstract
Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are known to be essential regulators of gastrointestinal
(GI) motility. Here, we report the clinical course and abnormalities of intestinal
ICC distribution in a 5-year-old patient with congenital fiber type disproportion
myopathy who demonstrated long-term GI dismotility. Full thickness biopsies of the
small intestine and colon showed a normal enteric muscle layer and myenteric plexus.
However, the density of ICC was strikingly decreased around the myenteric plexus compared
to that in autopsied cases without GI tract disease. These findings suggest that a
decline in ICC may contribute to disturbed GI motility in our patient with congenital
myopathy.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
October 15,
2004
Received in revised form:
October 13,
2004
Received:
April 22,
2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
