Megacolon in inflammatory bowel disease: response to infliximab

Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2020 Feb;112(2):90-93. doi: 10.17235/reed.2020.6394/2019.

Abstract

Megacolon is a serious complication of inflammatory bowel disease that often requires a colectomy. Infliximab is a therapeutic alternative when conventional treatment fails, before resorting to surgery. Its use is currently based on the publication of isolated cases. We present a series of 12 patients with megacolon treated with infliximab, five with signs of systemic toxicity. Seventy-five percent of the patients avoided a colectomy during their acute episode after early infliximab treatment, 2.45 days after the megacolon diagnosis. There was a greater risk of surgery among patients with ulcerative colitis and toxicity criteria. Two more patients required follow-up surgery despite long-term infliximab treatment. No patient suffered significant treatment-related adverse effects or significant post-surgery complications.

MeSH terms

  • Colectomy
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / complications
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / drug therapy
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / surgery
  • Gastrointestinal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / complications
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Infliximab / adverse effects
  • Megacolon*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Gastrointestinal Agents
  • Infliximab