Collagenous gastritis: A cause of anemia and gastric nodularity in the pediatric population

Abstract We present a case series of seven pediatric patients with collagenous gastritis (CG) with the aim of contributing data to existing literature about this rare disease to assist in the understanding and management of these patients. Gross nodularity seen on esophagogastroduodenoscopy and increased subepithelial collagen on biopsy were noted in the gastric body of all seven patients. Iron deficiency anemia was also diagnosed in all patients and did improve with iron supplementation. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain, fatigue, dizziness, and vomiting. Some patients seemed to have improvements in abdominal pain after use of antisecretory agents, such as proton pump inhibitors and histamine (H2) antagonists. All of the patients in our study had complete resolution of symptoms, but none showed improvements histologically. Even three patients who were trialed on oral or topical budesonide exhibited neither gross nor histologic improvements. Further clinical trials are needed to identify effective therapeutic strategies for CG that can result in long‐term histological improvement.