| Theme |
Drug-induced gastrointestinal disorders |
| Title |
Enteric infections associated with immunomodulatory therapy for inflammatory bowel disease patients |
| Author |
Nagamu Inoue |
Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy, Keio University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Katsuyoshi Matsuoka |
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Intercal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Haruhiko Ogata |
Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy, Keio University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Yasushi Iwao |
Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy, Keio University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Toshifumi Hibi |
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Intercal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
There has been an increase in the number of patients with intractable inflammatory bowel disease who had become refractory to treatment. The development of a number of new treatments has 1ead to a rise in the number of patients being treated with immunomodulatory agents, such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs. This may increase the risk of infection, especially intestinal infections such as cytomegaloviral colitis and Clostridium difficile colitis. Since clinical manifestations of these intestinal infections may mimic those of inflammatory bowel disease, physicians must chose appropriate treatment measures promptly. They should do this by determining whether complications are due to intestinal infections or exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease. |