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Bilateral diffuse orbital myositis in a patient with relapsing ulcerative colitis
John Bennion1, Matheson A Harris, Jennifer A Sivak-Callcott
1School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA.
Orbital myositis is a rare complication of inflammatory bowel disease. This report details the first case of bilateral orbital myositis in ulcerative colitis, successfully treated with corticosteroids.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Gastroenterology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Ophthalmic manifestations are common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Orbital inflammatory disease is a rare IBD complication, predominantly linked to Crohn disease.
- Ulcerative colitis (UC) is infrequently associated with orbital inflammatory disease.
Observation:
- We present the first reported case of bilateral, diffuse orbital myositis in a patient with ulcerative colitis.
- The patient was undergoing treatment with infliximab for their IBD.
- Symptoms of orbital inflammation showed rapid improvement following intravenous methylprednisolone administration.
Findings:
- Intravenous methylprednisolone led to dramatic improvement in orbital inflammation within 72 hours.
- Complete resolution of orbital myositis was achieved after an 8-week course of prednisone.
- The patient remained symptom-free for 13 months post-treatment.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare association between ulcerative colitis and orbital inflammatory disease.
- It underscores the importance of considering orbital myositis in IBD patients presenting with ocular symptoms.
- The findings suggest corticosteroids are an effective treatment for this rare condition.
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