Ulcerative Colitis and Sweet’s Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A 47-year-old man with a history of ulcerative colitis on prednisone and azathioprine was admitted to the hospital with a four-day history of fever, skin rash, arthralgias and leukocytosis. A skin biopsy demonstrated neutrophilic infiltration of the dermis that was consistent with Sweet’s syndrome. He improved after several days with an increase in his prednisone and azathioprine. Sweet’s syndrome is a rare cutaneous manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease, with approximately 40 cases reported in the literature. In a previously reported case of a patient with ulcerative colitis-associated Sweet’s syndrome who was on azathioprine at the time of the skin eruption, the azathioprine was stopped, raising the possibility of drug-induced Sweet’s syndrome. In the present case, the azathioprine was actually increased with complete resolution of the skin manifestations. This would support the theory that immunosuppressive therapy is the mainstay of therapy for this condition. In conclusion, Sweet’s syndrome is a neutrophilic dermatosis that is rarely associated with ulcerative colitis. It may occur while on immunosuppressive therapy and responds to an intensification of immunosuppression

Survey of clinical nutrition practices of Canadian gastroenterologists

OBJECTIVE: Nutrition education is a required part of gastrointestinal training programs. The involvement of gastroenterologists in clinical nutrition once their training has been completed is unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the practice pattern of gastroenterologists in clinical nutrition and their perceived adequacy of nutrition training during their gastroenterology (GI) fellowship

Enteral Nutrition in the Management of Pediatric and Adult Crohn’s Disease

Genetic and environmental factors are thought to profoundly influence the pathophysiology of Crohn’s disease (CD). Changes in dietary and hygiene patterns affect the interactions between the immune system and environment. The gut microbiome is responsible for mediating host immune response with significant dysbiosis observed in individuals with CD. Diet therapy using exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) has been studied as primary therapy for the management of CD. EEN may cultivate the presence of beneficial microbiota, improve bile acid metabolism, and decrease the number of dietary microparticles possibly influencing disease and immune activity. In this review, we will address the current evidence on EEN in the management of adult and pediatric CD. In adults, EEN appears to be moderately beneficial for the induction of remission of CD; however, its use is understudied and underutilized. Stronger evidence is in place to support the use of EEN in pediatric CD with the added benefit of nutrition support and steroid-sparing therapy during the growth phase. Overall, EEN is an established therapy in inducing CD remission in the pediatric population while its role as primary therapy of adult Crohn’s disease remains to be defined

Retractile Mesenteritis Presenting as Protein-Losing Gastroenteropathy

Retractile mesenteritis is a rare, idiopathic condition characterized by nonspecific inflammation of the mesenteric adipose tissue. The majority of patients present with abdominal pain and/or a palpable mass. In the present report, a 68-year-old man with peripheral edema and mild hypoalbuminemia is presented. Protein-losing gastroenteropathy was confirmed with an abnormal stool alpha1-antitrypsin clearance test and retractile mesenteritis was diagnosed at laparoscopy. This rare condition may respond to therapy with corticosteroids, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, colchicine, progesterone, tamoxifen or thalidomide. Gastroenterologists should consider the diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy in patients who present with unexplained peripheral edema or hypoalbuminemia. The test of choice to confirm this diagnosis is the stool alpha1-antitrypsin clearance test

Positive celiac disease serology and reduced bone mineral density in adult women

BACKGROUND: Low bone density and osteoporosis have been demonstrated in celiac disease populations in Europe, South America and the United States. Serological testing with tissue transglutaminase (TTG) and immunoglobulin A endomysial (EMA) antibodies is highly specific for celiac disease, while antigliadin antibody (AGA) testing is less specific

Celiac crisis in an adult on immunosuppressive therapy

‘Celiac crisis’ is a rare presentation of celiac disease with manifestations that include severe diarrhea, and severe metabolic and electrolyte abnormalities. It is most frequently seen in children younger than two years of age and has been rarely described in adults. A case of a 50-year-old woman who presented with diarrhea, severe dehydration, hypokalemia and metabolic acidosis is described. Based on positive serology and small bowel biopsy, she was diagnosed with celiac disease. She also had histological evidence of lymphocytic colitis. Microscopic colitis has not previously been described in association with celiac crisis, but it may have contributed to the presentation of celiac crisis in the current case. The patient was on corticosteroids and azathioprine for autoimmune hepatitis at the time of her presentation. The current case demonstrates that modest immunosuppression does not prevent a celiac crisis, although previous reports have shown that patients may respond rapidly to high-dose corticosteroids