ABSTRACT
Over 400 000 cases of tuberculosis existed in Europe in 2002, 1% of which were intestinal tuberculosis. With population migrations on the increase, physicians may have to face an increase in intestinal tuberculosis. One of the attributes of intestinal tuberculosis is its ability to present in nonspecific ways and to mimic other disorders, in particular inflammatory bowel disease. We present a case series of intestinal tuberculosis presenting as inflammatory bowel disease and referred for management to a specialized clinic in inflammatory bowel disease, followed by a discussion of the difficulties encountered with this condition. We highlight the consequences that misdiagnosis can have, in an era where population demographics are changing in Europe and where immunomodulators and biological agents have the potential to do more harm than good.
Subject(s)
Colonic Diseases/microbiology , Crohn Disease/diagnosis , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Colonoscopy , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare, chronic inflammatory disorder which has been associated with a number of other auto-immune conditions. However, there are no reports in the medical literature of an association with microscopic (lymphocytic) colitis. We report the case of a 53-year-old woman with several autoimmune conditions, including lymphocytic colitis, who presented with an acute hepatitis. On the basis of the clinical features, serology, and histopathology, we diagnosed autoimmune hepatitis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of autoimmune hepatitis in association with lymphocytic colitis, and lends support to the theory of an autoimmune etiology for lymphocytic colitis.