Korean J Gastroenterol.  2010 Sep;56(3):201-204. 10.4166/kjg.2010.56.3.201.

Remission of Ulcerative Colitis after Appendectomy: A Case Report

• Noh CH
• Cheung DY
• Kim TH
• Jun EJ
• Lee IK
• Kim JI
• Cho SH
• Park SH
• Han JY
• Kim JK

• KMID: 948783
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2010.56.3.201

Abstract

The inverse correlation of appendectomy and ulcerative colitis is well known, but the effect of appendectomy on the clinical course of ulcerative colitis remains unclear. Although the majority of opinions were negative for the therapeutic advantage of appendectomy in patients with ulcerative colitis, advocates for positive effect of appendectomy have been proposed in a few case reports and a prospective study from Western countries. We herein report a case of ulcerative colitis who experienced clinical remission after appendectomy for acute appendicitis. The patient was 35 year old male and had been managed with immunosuppressant before appendectomy. The very acute change in clinical course and a long period of remission after appendectomy highly suggest the therapeutic effect of appendectomy for ulcerative colitis.

Keyword

Ulcerative colitis; Appendectomy; Remission

MeSH Terms

6-Mercaptopurine/therapeutic use
Adult
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use
*Appendectomy
Colitis, Ulcerative/*diagnosis/drug therapy/surgery
Colonoscopy
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use
Male
Mesalamine/therapeutic use
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Treatment Outcome

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT. Thickened and dilated appendix (white arrowhead) with periappendiceal fluid collection was observed in right lower quadrant. Some lymph nodes were enlarged due to reactive change.

• 

  Fig. 2. Colonoscopic findings. (A) and (B) Colonoscopy pre-formed one and a half year before appendicitis showed the skip-ped erosions in the orifice of the appendix which was called as cecal patch and diffusely edematous, inflammatory mucosa with ulcers in the rectum. (C) and (D) One year after appendectomy, colonoscopic findings showed an in-active state without erosions or redness in the rectum and cecum.

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