ABSTRACT
Crohn's disease (CD) is characterized by transmural inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which predisposes to the formation of fistula. Duodenal involvement occurs in less than 5% of cases and often leads to clinically relevant strictures. However, fistula formation in the duodenum is exceptional. Herein, we report an unusual case of duodenobiliary fistula due to CD occurring in a 65-year-old patient who was successfully treated by anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. This case report highlights the efficacy of anti-TNF alpha agents in the treatment of a bilioenteric fistula because it increases the probability of clinical remission and mucosal healing and therefore reduces the need for surgical treatment which may be associated morbidity.
Subject(s)
Adalimumab/therapeutic use , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Bile Duct Diseases/complications , Biliary Fistula/complications , Crohn Disease/complications , Crohn Disease/drug therapy , Duodenal Diseases/complications , Intestinal Fistula/complications , Aged , Bile Duct Diseases/drug therapy , Biliary Fistula/drug therapy , Duodenal Diseases/drug therapy , Female , Humans , Intestinal Fistula/drug therapyABSTRACT
Anemia induced by digestive diseases refers to anemia due to iron deficiency. Conventional gastrointestinal diagnostic workup fails to establish the cause of iron deficiency in about one third of patients. Abnormal iron absorption is increasingly recognized as an important cause of unexplained iron deficiency. The importance of coeliac disease as a possible cause of iron deficiency anemia refractory to oral iron treatment, without other manifestations of malabsorption syndrome, is increasingly being recognized. In addition, Helicobacter pylori (HP) has been implicated in several recent studies as a cause of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) refractory to oral iron treatment. Cure of previously refractory IDA by HP eradication provides strong evidence supporting a cause-and-effect relationship. In order to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between HP gastritis and IDA, prospective randomized studies comparing the effects of iron administration with or without H. pylorieradication are highly recommended.