Remission of Ulcerative Colitis after Appendectomy: A Case Report

Chee Ho Noh; Dae Young Cheung; Tae Ho Kim; Eun Jung Jun; In Kyu Lee; Jin Il Kim; Se Hyun Cho; Soo-Heon Park; Joon Yeol Han; Jae Kwang Kim

doi:10.4166/kjg.2010.56.3.201

Journal List > Korean J Gastroenterol > v.56(3) > 1006714

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Noh, Cheung, Kim, Jun, Lee, Kim, Cho, Park, Han, and Kim: Remission of Ulcerative Colitis after Appendectomy: A Case Report

Original Article

Korean J Gastroenterol 2010;56(3):201-204.

Published online: 21 February 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2010.56.3.201

Remission of Ulcerative Colitis after Appendectomy: A Case Report

Chee Ho Noh, M.D., Dae Young Cheung, M.D., Tae Ho Kim, M.D., Eun Jung Jun, M.D., In Kyu Lee, M.D.^∗, Jin Il Kim, M.D., Se Hyun Cho, M.D., Soo-Heon Park, M.D., Joon Yeol Han, M.D., Jae Kwang Kim, M.D.

Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

^∗Department of Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence to: Dae Young Cheung, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, 62, Yoido- dong, Yeoungdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-713, Korea Tel: +82-2-3779-1065, Fax: +82-2-3779-1331 E-mail: adagio@catholic.ac.kr

Received 30 January 2010 Accepted 7 May 2010

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.

Keywords: Ulcerative colitis, Appendectomy, Remission

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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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