Open AccessFulminant Crohn's colitis: When only an antibody will do
Author(s) -
Ng Siew C.,
Kamm Michael A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
inflammatory bowel diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.932
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1536-4844
pISSN - 1078-0998
DOI - 10.1002/ibd.20139
Subject(s) - fulminant , medicine , adalimumab , gastroenterology , toxic megacolon , colitis , ulcerative colitis , colectomy , monoclonal antibody , immunology , tumor necrosis factor alpha , antibody , disease
Background: Fulminant Crohn's colitis complicated by toxic dilatation of the large bowel usually requires surgery, which carries a substantial morbidity and mortality rate. Methods: We report the case of a female with steroid refractory fulminant Crohn's colitis complicated by toxic megacolon who was successfully treated with the antitumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibody adalimumab. Results: Adalimumab induced rapid clinical response and remission, thereby avoiding emergency colectomy. Conclusions: This is the first report of treatment of fulminant Crohn's colitis with an antitumor necrosis factor antibody and the first report of the use of adalimumab for fulminant colitis of any cause. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2007)