Improvement in cholestasis associated with total parenteral nutrition after treatment with an antibody against tumour necrosis factor alpha.
BACKGROUND
Many patients receiving long-term total parenteral nutrition (TPN) develop liver disease; cholestasis is common and may be severe. Antitumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) antibodies have recently been used in order to treat Crohn's disease, but their effect on cholestasis in humans has not been previously described.


METHODS
A 45-year-old woman had complicated Crohn's disease with multiple fistulae and only 1 m of residual small bowel. She had been receiving TPN for 2.5 years when she developed cholestasis which worsened despite adjustments to her TPN regimen. Infliximab, an anti-TNFalpha antibody, was given with the aim of treating an enterocutaneous fistula, but it also produced a marked biochemical and histological improvement in the TPN-related cholestasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-TNFalpha antibodies appeared in this case to improve TPN-related cholestasis. This implies that TNFalpha may play an important role in the development of this condition.
Forrest
Ewan H
EH
Department of Gastroenterology, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow and Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK. Ewan.Forrest@gvic.scot.nh.uk
Oien
K A
KA
Dickson
S
S
Galloway
D
D
Mills
P R
PR
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008875:Middle Aged; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab