Infliximab for severe recurrent Crohn's disease presenting with massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
Severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage is an uncommon complication of Crohn's disease. Most bleeding episodes originate from colonic ulcers or ulcerated areas. The management of severe gastrointestinal bleeding in Crohn's disease is a therapeutic challenge. Several approaches including surgical resection, specific medical therapy of Crohn's disease, endoscopic treatment, or angiographic intervention have been attempted, but recurrence of bleeding is high. Monoclonal anti TNFalpha antibodies (infliximab) can induce relatively rapid mucosal healing. We report two cases of severe recurrent Crohn's disease presenting with massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding in which infliximab induced rapid mucosal healing and prevented recurrent bleeding.
Papi
Claudio
C
Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, S. Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy. c.papi@sanfilipponeri.roma.it
Gili
Loredana
L
Tarquini
Maurizio
M
Antonelli
Giorgio
G
Capurso
Lucio
L
D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000069285:Infliximab