Recurrent Stenosis of the Ileum Caused by Rheumatoid Vasculitis.

Abstract

A 65-year-old man with a 20-year history of rheumatoid arthritis was transferred to our hospital due to a second episode of intestinal obstruction, a fever, and joint pain within the previous 6 months. He had an extremely high rheumatoid factor level and decreased complement levels. Abdominal computed tomography, a small bowel series, and small intestinal endoscopy revealed severe ileal stenosis. Resection of the stenotic lesion was performed, and a histopathological examination revealed vasculitis. Rheumatoid vasculitis was diagnosed, and the patient began treatment with prednisolone and methotrexate, which improved his condition. Rheumatoid vasculitis is a rare, but possible cause of recurrent bowel obstruction.

• Authors: Masaki Tago, Yuka Naito, Hiroki Aihara, Naoko E Furukawa, Shu-ichi Yamashita
• Journal: Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) (Intern Med) Vol. 55 Issue 7 Pg. 819-23 ( 2016) ISSN: 1349-7235 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 27041172 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Rheumatoid Factor
• Prednisolone
• Methotrexate

Topics

• Aged
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (complications)
• Constriction, Pathologic (etiology, surgery)
• Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
• Humans
• Ileum (pathology, surgery)
• Intestinal Obstruction (etiology, surgery)
• Male
• Methotrexate (therapeutic use)
• Prednisolone (therapeutic use)
• Rheumatoid Factor (blood)
• Rheumatoid Vasculitis (drug therapy, physiopathology)