Unusual pulmonary complication of ulcerative colitis with a rapid response to corticosteroids: case report

• Published in: Gut Vol. 35; no. 6; pp. 847 - 848
• Main Authors: Hilling, G A, Robertson, D A, Chalmers, A H, Rigby, H S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Society of Gastroenterology 01.06.1994; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bones, joints and connective tissue. Antiinflammatory agents; Bronchiolitis Obliterans - complications; Colitis, Ulcerative - complications; Humans; Lung - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Pulmonary Fibrosis - complications; Pulmonary Fibrosis - drug therapy; Pulmonary Fibrosis - pathology; Case study; Human; Corticosteroid; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Respiratory disease; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Complication; Inflammatory disease; Ulcerative colitis
• ISSN: 0017-5749; 1468-3288; 1458-3288
• DOI: 10.1136/gut.35.6.847

Extraintestinal features of ulcerative colitis are well recognised. Pulmonary complications include pulmonary vasculitis, fibrosing alveolitis, asthma, and chronic bronchial suppuration. A case is described of a patient with longstanding quiescent ulcerative colitis who developed a life threatening pulmonary complication, which is extremely sensitive to corticosteroid treatment.