Infliximab rescue therapy in a case of severe granulomatous colitis associated with rituximab use

Abstract

Colitis occurs in about 4% of individuals treated with rituximab. Optimal management of rituximab-induced colitis, which does not improve with cessation of the drug and supportive care alone, is poorly defined due to limited evidence. Severe refractory disease can lead to colectomy. We present a case of suspected rituximab-induced colitis occurring in a woman in her 70s suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The patient achieved full clinical, endoscopic and histological remission of colitis with infliximab therapy. The use of biological therapy to treat rituximab-induced colitis can be a potentially organ-saving rescue therapy; however, it must be balanced against the increased risks of immunosuppression in patients already exposed to rituximab. While more evidence is required to fully understand the efficacy and risks of antitumour necrosis factor therapy in this scenario, our case provides an example of the successful use of infliximab for rituximab-induced colitis, which likely helped the patient avoid a colectomy.

Keywords: Crohn's disease; Drugs: gastrointestinal system; Immunology; Inflammatory bowel disease; Unwanted effects / adverse reactions.