Infliximab monotherapy for ulcerative colitis-related severe enteritis following colectomy in a paediatric patient.

Abstract

We report the rare entity of ulcerative colitis-related severe enteritis (UCRSE) following colectomy in a child. This entity has been described primarily in adults and is characterised by diffuse enteritis with histology identical to ulcerative colitis (UC). The mainstay treatment is steroids and in recent years anti-tumour necrosis factor agents.A boy in early adolescence required urgent colectomy for medically refractory severe acute colitis. Colectomy specimen histology confirmed UC. Postoperatively, he developed fevers, severe abdominal pain and excessive stoma output (5 L/day). Endoscopy revealed severe extensive enteritis, histologically resembling UC. Infliximab (IFX) was commenced with significant improvement. He remains asymptomatic 28 months post-colectomy on maintenance IFX monotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the youngest patient with this complication.This case illustrates the need to consider UCRSE in a child with otherwise unexplained fever, severe abdominal pain and high stoma output post colectomy. IFX monotherapy is a successful treatment option.