Short-Term Response to Infliximab in Rheumatoid Pattern Polyarthropathy Complicating Ulcerative Colitis

• Main Authors: ilke Coskun Benlidayi, Erkan Kozanoglu, Emine Aygul Ortac
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cukurova University 2015-12-01
• Series: Çukurova Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi
• Subjects: anti-TNF; arthritis; infliximab; polyarthropathy; ulcerative colitis
• Online Access: http://www.scopemed.org/fulltextpdf.php?mno=167681

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a progressive inflammatory disease (IBD) of the bowel which can be accompanied by extra-intestinal findings such as peripheral and axial arthropathies. Patients with UC sometimes display rheumatoid pattern polyarthropathy which is challenging to differ from rheumatoid arthritis. We describe a case with rheumatoid pattern polyarthropathy complicating UC and her favourable response to infliximab therapy. A 25-year-old female with a diagnosis of UC was admitted due to swelling and pain in multiple joints. Laboratory tests revealed elevated acute phase reactants. Since the patient was refractory to the combination therapy comprising methotrexate, sulphasalazine and steroid, she was started on an infliximab regimen. She experienced an improvement both in terms of pain scores and biochemical findings. The patient was asymptomatic with reduced acute phase reactants following a 6-month-course of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy. Infliximab serves as an effective treatment option for the management of rheumatoid pattern peripheral polyarthritis associated with UC. [Cukurova Med J 2015; 40(4.000): 818-821]