[Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis in systemic diseases: 3 cases].
BACKGROUND
Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is usually a complication of digestive tract or respiratory tract diseases, but rare cases have been described in systemic diseases, mainly systemic sclerosis.


METHODS
Three patients, one with temporal arteritis and two with polyarteritis nodosa (complicating rheumatoid arthritis in one case) were treated by prednisone. All three developed PCI, complicated in one case by a retropneumoperitoneum. Medical treatment led to a favorable outcome in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Sixty-two cases of PCI have been reported in patients with various systemic diseases (systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, dermatopolymyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, amyloidosis). Systemic sclerosis is the most frequent condition (45%). In the other cases, corticosteroid therapy or digestive tract vasculitis are the main causal factors. Outcome is usually favorable with medical treatment. Laparotomy is rarely needed.
Grasland
A
A
Service de Médecine interne, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Colombes.
Pouchot
J
J
Leport
J
J
Barge
J
J
Vinceneux
P
P
D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011006:Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012188:Retropneumoperitoneum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Pneumatose kystique intestinale au cours d'une maladie systémique. 3 observations.