Causes and consequences: development and pathophysiology of Hirschsprung disease

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital enteric neuropathy in which the enteric nervous system (ENS) fails to develop along variable lengths of the distal gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This aganglionosis results in a functional bowel obstruction and requires surgical resection of the aganglionic...

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Main Authors: Alan J Burns, Allan M Goldstein
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-11-01
Series:World Journal of Pediatric Surgery
Online Access:https://wjps.bmj.com/content/7/4/e000903.full
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author Alan J Burns
Allan M Goldstein
author_facet Alan J Burns
Allan M Goldstein
author_sort Alan J Burns
collection DOAJ
description Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital enteric neuropathy in which the enteric nervous system (ENS) fails to develop along variable lengths of the distal gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This aganglionosis results in a functional bowel obstruction and requires surgical resection of the aganglionic segment. Despite surgery, however, long-term bowel dysfunction affects many patients. Understanding the embryologic causes and pathophysiologic consequences of HSCR is critical to improving its diagnosis and treatment. During normal gut development, the ENS arises from neural crest cells (NCCs) that delaminate from the neural tube to populate the entire GI tract with enteric neurons and glia. This process requires NCCs to undergo proliferation, migration and differentiation to form the complex neuroglial network that regulates gut motility and other intestinal functions. This review discusses the cellular and molecular processes that control normal ENS formation and what goes awry to give rise to HSCR. The complex pathophysiologic consequences of aganglionosis are discussed, including recent observations that describe novel aspects of HSCR beyond the absence of ganglion cells. This review aims to expand the understanding of HSCR and to stimulate new ideas on how to improve current management of the disease.
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spelling doaj-art-80529e075a6a4da99dafe82512168da32024-12-07T10:05:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupWorld Journal of Pediatric Surgery2516-54102024-11-017410.1136/wjps-2024-000903Causes and consequences: development and pathophysiology of Hirschsprung diseaseAlan J Burns0Allan M Goldstein1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USAHirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital enteric neuropathy in which the enteric nervous system (ENS) fails to develop along variable lengths of the distal gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This aganglionosis results in a functional bowel obstruction and requires surgical resection of the aganglionic segment. Despite surgery, however, long-term bowel dysfunction affects many patients. Understanding the embryologic causes and pathophysiologic consequences of HSCR is critical to improving its diagnosis and treatment. During normal gut development, the ENS arises from neural crest cells (NCCs) that delaminate from the neural tube to populate the entire GI tract with enteric neurons and glia. This process requires NCCs to undergo proliferation, migration and differentiation to form the complex neuroglial network that regulates gut motility and other intestinal functions. This review discusses the cellular and molecular processes that control normal ENS formation and what goes awry to give rise to HSCR. The complex pathophysiologic consequences of aganglionosis are discussed, including recent observations that describe novel aspects of HSCR beyond the absence of ganglion cells. This review aims to expand the understanding of HSCR and to stimulate new ideas on how to improve current management of the disease.https://wjps.bmj.com/content/7/4/e000903.full
spellingShingle Alan J Burns
Allan M Goldstein
Causes and consequences: development and pathophysiology of Hirschsprung disease
World Journal of Pediatric Surgery
title Causes and consequences: development and pathophysiology of Hirschsprung disease
title_full Causes and consequences: development and pathophysiology of Hirschsprung disease
title_fullStr Causes and consequences: development and pathophysiology of Hirschsprung disease
title_full_unstemmed Causes and consequences: development and pathophysiology of Hirschsprung disease
title_short Causes and consequences: development and pathophysiology of Hirschsprung disease
title_sort causes and consequences development and pathophysiology of hirschsprung disease
url https://wjps.bmj.com/content/7/4/e000903.full
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