Acute spontaneously recovering ulcerating colitis (ARUC). Report of 6 cases

Abstract

Six patients each with an extensive ulcerating colitis are reported. Common features were a febrile nonbloody diarrhea; radiological involvement of the whole colon with superficial ulcerations and preservation of haustra, and integrity of the terminal ileum and rectum; the absence of any specific pathological finding; and, most important, the spontaneous recovery of the lesions in the absence of any treatment except sympatomatic measures. The present follow up after recovery range from 18 months to 5 years. Four cases were young women taking oral contraceptives and two patients were older. These patients with colitis could represent a new entity or could be a particular form of Crohn's disease of the colon, with delayed diagnostic pathological features.

PIP: 6 cases of women suffering extensive ulcerating colitis are presented. The common features of the disease were the appearance of febril nonbloody diarrhea; radiological involvement of the whole colon with superficial ulcerations and preservation of haustra, and integrity of the terminal ileum and rectum; absence of any specific pathological findings; and the spontaneous recovery of the lesions in 18 months-5 years. 4 of the 6 women had been taking oral contraceptives at, or just before, the onset of the colitis. The 2 other patients were older. Appendectomy was performed prior to the diarrhea occurrence in 3 cases. It is suggested that oral contraceptives may have influenced the onset of colitis by an allergic mechanism. It is possible that these cases are suffering a form of Crohn's disease.