The course and clinical manifestations of Peutz–Jeghers syndrome in the Russian population

Background. Peutz–Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare hereditary syndrome characterized by the growth of hamartomatous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract, perioral pigmentation and an increased risk of malignant neoplasms. The syndrome is caused by a pathogenic variant in the STK11 gene.

Aim. To assess the clinical picture and treatment of Russian patients with PJS.

Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of 30 patients from 25 families with an established diagnosis of PJS who were in the Ryzikh State Scientific Center for Coloproctology from 2011 to 2021 was carried out. All patients underwent instrumental examination, including esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, X-ray examination of the small intestine/CT-enterography, in the absence of invaginates – video capsule endoscopy, as well as molecular genetic examination for the presence of pathogenic variants in the STK11 gene. All removed polyps were subjected to the histological examination.

Results. The analysis of the clinical picture allowed us to establish the following data: the first complaints in patients were noted in childhood and adolescence, while the median age was 11 [7; 19] (0.5–24) years; pathogenic variants in the STK11 gene were identified in 26 (87%) cases, among which 10 were described for the first time; during the initial examination, polyps in the small intestine were detected in all 30 (100%) patients, in the stomach – in 23/30 (77%) patients, and in the colon – in 21/30 (70%); with an age, an increase in the number of polyps in all parts of the gastrointestinal tract was noted; before the diagnosis operations were performed urgently for intestinal obstruction; after the diagnosis of PJS, when polyps were detected in the gastrointestinal tract, endoscopic polypectomies were performed; if endoscopic removal of hamartomatous polyps was impossible, patients were operated as planned; malignant diseases of the predominantly reproductive system were detected in 8/30 (27%) patients. The median age of cancer detection was 52 [31; 52] (17–59) years.

Conclusion. Russian patients with PJS have population-specific features in the clinical picture of the course of the disease, which dictates the need to develop their own recommendations for monitoring and treatment of such patients.