Fulminant ulcerative colitis in a healthy pregnant woman

Abstract

This case report concerns a 25-year-old patient with 6-7 bloody stools/d, abdominal pain, tachycardia, and weight loss occurring during the third trimester of pregnancy. Severe ulcerative colitis complicated by toxic megacolon and gravidic sepsis was diagnosed by clinical evaluation, colonoscopy, and rectal biopsy that were performed safely without risk for the mother or baby. The patient underwent a cesarean section at 28+6 wk gestation. The baby was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital and survived without complications. Fulminant colitis was managed conservatively by combined colonoscopic decompression and medical treatment. Although current European guidelines describe toxic megacolon as an indication for emergency surgery for both pregnant and non-pregnant women, thanks to careful monitoring, endoscopic decompression, and intensive medical therapy with nutritional support, we prevented the woman from having to undergo emergency pancolectomy. Our report seems to suggest that conservative management may be a helpful tool in preventing pancolectomy if the patient’s condition improves quickly. Otherwise, surgery is mandatory.

Key Words: Ulcerative colitis, Toxic megacolon, Pregnancy, Cesarean section, Colonoscopy

Core tip: Severe ulcerative colitis complicated by toxic megacolon is widely considered to be an indication for emergency surgery. We reported a case of acute colitis in a healthy pregnant woman conservatively treated by intensive monitoring combined with medical therapy and endoscopic decompression in order to prevent the mother from having to undergo pancolectomy and the neonate from suffering an adverse perinatal outcome.

INTRODUCTION

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which affects mainly young people in their reproductive period. A first disease attack of UC during pregnancy is uncommon, and is usually associated with an adverse outcome[1]. Antenatal disease progression correlates with activity at the onset of pregnancy: if UC is in remission at the time of conception, it will remain quiescent throughout pregnancy, while if it is active, it will progressively worsen, leading to an increased incidence of stillbirth, preterm delivery, or postpartum complications for both mother and neonate[2-6]. The management of UC during pregnancy is quite different from that in non-pregnant women because medical therapy, radiology, endoscopy, and surgery imply potential risks for the fetus[2,7]. This article describes an unusual case of UC which developed early in the third trimester of pregnancy and was managed by a multidisciplinary team.

CASE REPORT

In October 2013 (1^st October), a 25-year-old woman gravida 1/para 0 at 27 + 3 wk gestation without previous known diseases, presented to a periphery hospital with 6 episodes of bloody diarrhea per day for 6 d. Over the subsequent 3 d, she failed to improve and was transferred to the Obstetrics Department of the University Hospital of Brescia, Italy after a diagnosis of preterm labor (3^rd October). At admission she had no fever and was tachycardic (105 bpm). Initial laboratory investigations included hemoglobin concentration (8.8 g/dL), C-reactive protein (CRP, 178 mg/L), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, 45 mm/h). Obstetric ultrasound showed fetal cardiac activity appropriate for gestational age biometry and normal amniotic fluid index. Corticosteroids for the induction of fetal lung maturation were administered, together with tocolysis with atosiban and antibiotic therapy (clindamycin from 4^th to 8^th October, then imipenem). Microbiological testing for infectious diarrhea including Clostridium difficile toxin, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Brucella melitensis was performed, were all negative. Meanwhile, because of the appearance of fever and a rise of inflammation indexes with worsening diarrhea (7-8 episodes of bloody stool per day), antibiotic therapy was switched to amikacin, vancomycin, metronidazole, and meropenem. The patient was non-responsive to antibiotics and her clinical condition continued to deteriorate. On 9^th October, the patient’s bowels became closed to stool and gases. Computed tomography (Figure 1) revealed the presence of transverse colonic dilatation (9 cm), suggesting a diagnosis of toxic megacolon[8]. Hemocultures for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were negative. Thereafter (10^th October), the patient was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit with a diagnosis of severe sepsis (CRP 163 mg/L, procalcitonin 81.4 ng/mL). Serum albumin had fallen to 1.76 g/dL and albumin infusion was started. Endoscopic procedures were accurately planned in the surgery room and managed in conjunction with obstetricians and colorectal surgeons in order to eventually perform an emergency cesarean section (CS) and/or colectomy, if necessary. Presence of fetal heart activity was confirmed before sedation and after endoscopy. Colonoscopy showed complete substitution of the colorectal mucosa by a fibrinous layer (Figure 2). Ulcerative colitis was confirmed by histopathology (Figure 3). According to Truelove-Witts’ criteria, a diagnosis of a severe form of the disease was formulated[9]. The patient’s hemoglobin fell to 6.3 g/dL, and so she was given a blood transfusion. On 11^th October (28 + 6 wk gestation), she underwent a CS. A male neonate was delivered weighing 1295 grams. He did not show any congenital anomalies. He was immediately intubated, transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and survived without complications. Immediately after delivery, a colorectal surgeon performed a bowel evaluation and definitively excluded colectomy. On 14^th October, intravenous methyl-prednisolone 60 mg/24 h (then oral prednisone 50 mg once a day) and oral mesalazine 500 mg three times a day (then 1600 mg three times a day) were started. Another colonoscopic decompression was performed and then the patient was transferred to the Gastroenterology Unit (16^th October), where she underwent her third endoscopic decompression. Oral azathioprine was undertaken. Gastroscopy and magnetic resonance enterography excluded a form of overlap between Crohn’s disease and UC. Parenteral nutrition was stopped on 22^nd November. The patient was discharged after 54 d of hospitalization, with follow-up being performed by the IBD Center of the Gastroenterology Unit. The baby was discharged five weeks later in good clinical condition.

Figure 1 Abdominal computed tomography scan showing toxic megacolon during pregnancy. Ascending colon diameter was 7.6 cm, transverse colon 9.2 cm, and descending colon 5.7 cm, which was consistent with toxic megacolon. Bowel wall thickness is normal without signs of ischemic sufferance. No abdominal free gas or effusion.

Figure 2 Colonoscopy in toxic megacolon at different times of pregnancy and therapy. A: Emergency colonoscopy performed during pregnancy before starting treatment: spontaneous bleeding and denudation of the mucosal surface, which is substituted by a fibrinous layer (descending colon); B: Colonoscopy after 9 d of treatment: mucosal hyperemia and erosions, fibrinous spots (cecum); C: Colonoscopy after one-month treatment: regenerative pseudopolyps of 2-4 mm (descending colon).

Figure 3 Histopathology of active ulcerative colitis. Colonic mucosa characterized by atrophic glands with architectural distortion, mucin depletion, intense inflammatory cell infiltrate of the lamina propria rich in eosinophils, basal plasma cells, crypt abscess, and surface ulceration (A, B: Hematoxylin-eosin staining, magnification × 4; C: Hematoxylin-eosin staining, magnification × 10; D: Hematoxylin-eosin staining, magnification × 20).

DISCUSSION

On the basis of old reports and experiences, the course of UC during pregnancy correlates with the level of the disease activity at the time of conception. If conception occurs during a period of clinical remission, the disease will probably continue to be inactive throughout pregnancy[3,4]; while an active UC at conception will progressively worsen during pregnancy.

However, in our case report the patient presented with a first diagnosis of UC in the third trimester of pregnancy. The onset of IBD in a pregnant woman is uncommon and is usually associated with a poor prognosis[1,10] because of an increased overall risk of an adverse neonatal outcome; the most frequently described are preterm delivery and low birth weight[5,11-13].

An accurate patient history is crucial, as are clinical and pertinent investigations to assess colitis activity. Endoscopic evaluation and rectal biopsy play an essential role in the diagnosis, management, prognosis, and surveillance of antenatal IBD, and can be performed safely without a significant increase in complications for the mother or fetus[14].

Concerning the method of delivery, most studies have also shown a significantly increased incidence of CS, but it is not consistently clear whether this is predominantly due to elective or emergency CS[5,12,13]. Our decision to perform a CS was taken not only due to the extreme early gestational age, but also in order to evaluate with colorectal surgeons a balanced view of the bowel and possible surgical interventions.

UC management in pregnant women implies special considerations concerning risks for the fetus. For example, most drugs necessary in such cases (e.g., aminosalicylates agents and corticosteroids) are considered safe both for the mother and baby[2,14], but methotrexate and thalidomide are contraindicated[2]. Although there are limited data[15,16] on the safety of colonoscopy during pregnancy, it appears relatively safe, but requires several precautions concerning sedation and the left-sided position of the mother during the procedure, particularly in the third trimester. Obviously, it should be performed only when strongly indicated by an expert endoscopist after obstetric consultation[17]. In our case, the colonoscopy was performed not only for the diagnosis of UC complicated by toxic megacolon, but also to perform a colonoscopic decompression. Abdominal surgery, particularly when performed in the third trimester, is reported to increase the incidence of preterm labor and, consequently, implies a higher risk of adverse perinatal outcome[18]. According to guidelines, the indications for emergency surgery are the same for pregnant and non-pregnant women, including failed medical treatment[19] and complications such as toxic megacolon[2]. The principal advantages of a conservative management of toxic megacolon in pregnant women is to let the baby reach an appropriate gestational age to survive and, secondly, prevent the mother from having to undergo an emergency colectomy during gravidic sepsis. Although current guidelines describe toxic megacolon as an indication of emergency surgery[18], endoscopic decompression together with medical treatment and intensive monitoring should be a potentially successful management of severe UC complicated by toxic megacolon during pregnancy. Conversely, the presence of signs of acute abdomen, including perforation, abscess, ischemia, thrombosis (which were not present in our patient), and/or the lack of early response to conservative therapy, are indicators for surgery. Our report confirms the hypothesis that decisions regarding timing and indications for surgery are often challenging.

COMMENTS

Case characteristics

A 25-year-old woman gravida 1/para 0 with 6-7 bloody stools/d, abdominal pain, tachycardia, and weight loss occurring during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Clinical diagnosis

Bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, hyporexia, apyrexy, and tachycardia.

Differential diagnosis

Infectious colitis (Clostridium difficile, Cytomegalovirus, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Brucella melitensis) and inflammatory bowel disease.

Laboratory diagnosis

8.8 g/dL hemoglobin concentration, 178 mg/L C-reactive protein, 45 mm/h erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and 81.4 ng/mL procalcitonin.

Imaging diagnosis

CT scan showed an ascending colon diameter of 7.6 cm, a transverse colon of 9.2 cm, and a descending colon of 5.7 cm, which was consistent with toxic megacolon. Bowel wall thickness was normal without signs of ischemic sufferance. No abdominal free gas or effusion was detected.

Pathological diagnosis

Colonoscopy and biopsy revealed severe ulcerative colitis in the active phase.

Treatment

The patient was treated with intravenous and oral corticosteroids, oral mesalazine, azathioprine, nutritional support, antibiotics, blood transfusion, potassium parenteral correction, and albumin infusion.

Related reports

New onset of ulcerative colitis during pregnancy is uncommon and associated with a poor prognosis.

Experiences and lessons

Although current guidelines describe toxic megacolon as an indication for emergency surgery, endoscopic decompression together with medical treatment and intensive monitoring should be lead to the potentially successful management of severe ulcerative colitis complicated by toxic megacolon during pregnancy.

Peer-review

This case report describes the onset of ulcerative colitis complicated by toxic megacolon in a 25-year-old pregnant patient. A cesarean section was performed and the colitis was managed conservatively.