Severe Hypercholesterolemia Caused by Mesalazine Which Is a Key Drug of Ulcerative Colitis

Drug-induced hypercholesterolemia is well known to cause side effects, such as secondary hypercholesterolemia. Many of these drugs are essential for long-term use and are difficult to replace; therefore, they are continued even when associated with hypercholesterolemia. Mesalazine is the first-line drug used for treating ulcerative colitis. We herein report a case of severe hypercholesterolemia following mesalazine administration in a patient with ulcerative colitis. In this case, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor was effective in dramatically improving severe hypercholesterolemia. Clinicians should therefore be aware of the possibility of severe hypercholesterolemia caused by mesalazine for educational purposes.