title: Evaluation of Infliximab Effects on Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Crohn's Disease Using Double-Balloon Endoscopy.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor α plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). The effects of infliximab on gastrointestinal bleeding in CD have not yet been fully evaluated. Herein we describe three CD cases who presented with gastrointestinal bleeding and received infliximab treatment. In case 1, double-balloon endoscopy showed a large ulcer with several irregularly shaped ulcers in the terminal ileum; 8 weeks after infliximab administration, complete healing of all lesions was observed. In case 2, double-balloon endoscopy showed linear ulcers and mucosal edema in the jejunum and ileum; 5 weeks after infliximab administration, all lesions were decreased in size and were healed. In case 3, double-balloon endoscopy revealed ulcerations and stenosis in the terminal ileum; 12 weeks after infliximab administration, ulcer healing and an increased diameter of the ileal stenosis were observed. These three cases have been receiving ongoing infliximab maintenance therapy and are currently symptom-free. Infliximab thus appears to be useful for treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding in CD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan.
authors.forename: Manzurul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kudara
authors.forename: Toshimi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chiba
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Risaburo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akasaka
authors.forename: Kazumitsu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Saori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizutani
authors.forename: Tamotsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugai
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takikawa
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki