Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction associated with interleukin-2 therapy

In this case report, we present a patient with metastatic gastric carcinoma who developed massive colonic dilatation during treatment with recombinant interleukin-2. The spectrum of gastrointestinal symptomatology associated with interleukin-2 therapy is broad. However, colonic pseudo-obstruction, to our knowledge, has never before been reported. We review therapy for colonic pseudo-obstruction and a proposed mechanism of interleukin-2 toxicity. We report this case to heighten awareness of the potential for the development of this complication in patients undergoing interleukin-2 immunotherapy.