Cyclophosphamide therapy in Sweet's syndrome complicating refractory Crohn's disease - Efficacy and mechanism of action

Christian Meinhardt, Jürgen Büning, Klaus Fellermann, Hendrik Lehnert, Klaus J. Schmidt*

*Korrespondierende/r Autor/-in für diese Arbeit
6 Zitate (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Sweet's syndrome is a rare extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn's disease that is usually treated by corticosteroids. Cyclophosphamide therapy has been shown to be effective in steroid-refractory Crohn's disease with extraintestinal manifestations. The mechanism of action remains obscure. Here, we report about a case of steroid-refractory Sweet's syndrome accompanying Crohn's colitis treated by cyclophosphamide. Methods: At baseline and two weeks after initiating cyclophosphamide pulse therapy, clinical symptoms were evaluated and apoptosis in mononuclear cells of the colon mucosa was quantified via immunofluorescence TUNEL-labeling. Ongoing clinical follow-up lasts for more than three years. Results: Cyclophosphamide pulse therapy resulted in complete resolution of luminal activity and extraintestinal manifestations. TUNEL-marked CD4 +, CD8 + and CD68 + cells in intestinal biopsies showed a 338% increase as compared to baseline. Conclusions: Cyclophosphamide therapy was highly effective in steroid-refractory Crohn's colitis accompanied by Sweet's syndrome for induction of remission. Furthermore, apoptosis of mononuclear cells in the colon mucosa, including CD68 + macrophages as well as CD4 + and CD8 + cells, appears to be a component of the anti-inflammatory effect of cyclophosphamide in Crohn's disease.

OriginalspracheEnglisch
ZeitschriftJournal of Crohn's and Colitis
Jahrgang5
Ausgabenummer6
Seiten (von - bis)633-637
Seitenumfang5
ISSN1873-9946
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 01.12.2011

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