Infliximab monotherapy for ulcerative colitis-related severe enteritis following colectomy in a paediatric patient

Mohana Sathiaseelan1, Kei Yu Chiu2, Alicia Lim2

  • 1Dept of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia mo_mona23@yahoo.com.

BMJ Case Reports
|November 8, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Ulcerative colitis-related severe enteritis (UCRSE) is a rare complication after colectomy, primarily seen in adults. This case highlights successful treatment with infliximab (IFX) in a young patient.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Surgical Complications

Background:

  • Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Colectomy is a treatment option for severe, refractory UC.
  • Ulcerative colitis-related severe enteritis (UCRSE) is a rare post-colectomy complication.

Observation:

  • A pediatric patient with medically refractory UC underwent colectomy.
  • Postoperatively, the patient developed fever, severe abdominal pain, and high stoma output.
  • Endoscopy revealed extensive enteritis with histology consistent with UC.

Findings:

  • Infliximab (IFX) therapy was initiated for the severe enteritis.
  • The patient showed significant clinical improvement with IFX.
  • This represents the youngest reported case of UCRSE.

Implications:

  • UCRSE should be considered in pediatric patients presenting with unexplained post-colectomy symptoms.
  • Infliximab monotherapy is a viable and effective treatment for UCRSE in children.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment can lead to favorable outcomes in UCRSE.

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