title: The role of latanoprost in an inflammatory bowel disease flare.
abstract: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (CD) are characterized by inflammation of the intestinal mucosa and symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhea. Many studies have shown an association between elevated levels of prostaglandins and mucosal damage in inflammatory bowel disease. We report a 50-year-old woman with a history of CD and open-angle glaucoma. Her glaucoma was treated with latanoprost, a prostaglandin analog, which was associated with an exacerbation of her CD. On discontinuation of latanoprost, her CD symptoms disappeared completely. This case suggests that in a patient with CD, topical administration of latanoprost may result in sufficient systemic absorption and circulation to promote a relapse of CD. This finding has important implications, not only for patients with inflammatory bowel disease and glaucoma, but also for both ophthalmologists and gastroenterologists.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Consulting Ophthalmologists, Farmington, CT, USA and Department of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA spaul1@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
authors: Sonali
authors: S
authors: Paul
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Consulting Ophthalmologists, Farmington, CT, USA and Department of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Wand
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Consulting Ophthalmologists, Farmington, CT, USA and Department of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Geoffrey T
authors: GT
authors: Emerick
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Consulting Ophthalmologists, Farmington, CT, USA and Department of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: James M
authors: JM
authors: Richter
keywords: Crohn’s disease; glaucoma; lantanoprost; prostaglandin