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- Title
Rescue therapy with tacrolimus in a patient with toxic megacolon.
- Authors
Pascu, Maria; Müller, Hans-Peter; Müller, Andrea R.; Wiedenmann, Bertram; Dignass, Axel U.
- Abstract
Background. Toxic megacolon is a life-threatening complication most commonly observed in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease that is characterized by total or segmental nonobstructive colonic dilatation of at least 6 cm on plain abdominal films associated with systemic toxicity. Case report. We report an unusual case of fulminant steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis complicated by toxic megacolon treated successfully with the immunosuppressant tacrolimus. Conclusion. Tacrolimus administration induced clinical remission and bridged the time interval, until the standard immunosuppressant azathioprine could maintain clinical remission, thereby avoiding eminent emergency colectomy.
- Subjects
TACROLIMUS; ULCERATIVE colitis; MEGACOLON; STEROIDS
- Publication
International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 2003, Vol 18, Issue 3, p271
- ISSN
0179-1958
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00384-002-0458-8