Barrett esophagus, or Barrett metaplasia, describes the phenotypic change of normal esophageal squamous epithelium to a columnar and intestinal-type epithelium. This metaplastic change is important because patients with Barrett esophagus have an increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The main cause of Barrett metaplasia is gastroesophageal reflux (GER; 109350). The retrograde movement of acid and bile salts from the stomach into the esophagus in this disease causes prolonged injury to the esophageal epithelium and induces chronic esophagitis, which in turn is believed to trigger the pathologic changes (summary by Wong et al., 2005).

Mulvihill-Smith syndrome is characterized by premature aging, multiple pigmented nevi, lack of facial subcutaneous fat, microcephaly, short stature, sensorineural hearing loss, and mental retardation. Immunodeficiency may also be a feature. Adult manifestations include the development of tumors, a sleep disorder with severe insomnia, and cognitive decline (summary by Yagihashi et al., 2009).

STAT3 hyper IgE syndrome (STAT3-HIES) is a primary immune deficiency syndrome characterized by elevated serum IgE, eczema, and recurrent skin and respiratory tract infections, together with several nonimmune features. This disorder typically manifests in the newborn period with a rash (often diagnosed as eosinophilic pustulosis) that subsequently evolves into an eczematoid dermatitis. Recurrent staphylococcal skin boils and bacterial pneumonias usually manifest in the first years of life. Pneumatoceles and bronchiectasis often result from aberrant healing of pneumonias. Mucocutaneous candidiasis is common. Nonimmune features may include retained primary teeth, scoliosis, bone fractures following minimal trauma, joint hyperextensibility, and characteristic facial appearance, which typically emerges in adolescence. Vascular abnormalities have been described and include middle-sized artery tortuosity and aneurysms, with infrequent clinical sequelae of myocardial infarction and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations include gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophageal dysmotility, and spontaneous intestinal perforations (some of which are associated with diverticuli). Fungal infections of the GI tract (typically histoplasmosis, Cryptococcus, and Coccidioides) also occur infrequently. Survival is typically into adulthood, with most individuals now living into or past the sixth decade. Most deaths are associated with gram-negative (Pseudomonas) or filamentous fungal pneumonias resulting in hemoptysis. Lymphomas occur at an increased frequency.

Recurrent gastrointestinal ulceration with dysfunctional platelets (GURDP) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by onset of severe gastrointestinal mucosal ulceration in early childhood. Affected individuals may have secondary iron deficiency anemia or malnourishment. Studies of platelet aggregation show a functional defect associated with decreased thromboxane-A2 production and decreased eicosanoid biosynthesis. The gastrointestinal disease is believed to result from decreased or absent production of prostaglandins that protect the gut mucosa (summary by Adler et al., 2008 and Faioni et al., 2014).