Published online Dec 14, 2020. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i46.7425
Peer-review started: July 28, 2020
First decision: September 30, 2020
Revised: October 11, 2020
Accepted: November 4, 2020
Article in press: November 4, 2020
Published online: December 14, 2020
Joint, skin, oral cavity, and eye lesions are the most common extraintestinal manifestations of ulcerative colitis that can occur before or after its onset. The cases of ulcerative colitis with dermatomyositis (DM) are rare. In this study, we report a rare case of ulcerative colitis with DM that was effectively treated with infliximab.
The patient was a 57-year-old female with a 2-year history of DM. The patient was admitted to hospital with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and blood in stool lasting for more than 2 mo. Colonoscopy revealed multiple erosions and ulcers in the entire colon and rectum. Pathological sections showed chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, especially neutrophil infiltration, in the colonic mucosa; therefore, the patient was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Preparations of 5-aminosalicylic acid was added to her treatment based on the original treatment for DM, but its effect was unsatisfactory. The patient’s discomfort was relieved after infliximab treatment.
Infliximab can improve DM in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Specialists need to raise awareness about patients with inflammatory bowel disease who have rare extraintestinal manifestations.
Core Tip: Few cases of ulcerative colitis have dermatomyositis (DM) as complication. DM may be a less frequent extraintestinal manifestation of ulcerative colitis. Infliximab is effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis in patients with autoimmune disease or poor hormone response.