title: Successful treatment of rectal ulcers in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus using corticosteroids and tacrolimus.
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is frequently accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms. Although all parts of the gastrointestinal tract may be affected, colonic involvement is quite rare. Colonic ulceration, particularly in the rectum, is associated with a high mortality rate in patients with SLE, despite immunosuppressive therapy. While a standard regimen for treating rectal ulcers as a complication of SLE has not been established, combination therapy with steroids and immunosuppressive agents is necessary because of the associated high mortality rate. In this report, we describe a patient with SLE whose condition was complicated with ulcerative lesions in the rectum and sigmoid colon; the lesions were successfully treated with a combination of corticosteroids and tacrolimus therapy. Tacrolimus could be a useful additional or alternative modality for treating rectal involvement in SLE.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respirology, Neurology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine , Kurume , Japan.
authors.forename: Shinjiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaieda
authors.forename: Teppei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moroki
authors.forename: Seiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuge
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsuyama
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ida
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014456:Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus