Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Crohn's Disease: A Rare Combination and Unusual Presentation

The coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Crohn's disease (CD) is very rare. The usual sequence of occurrence is CD followed by SLE, where CD treatment with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) induces the latter. Here, we present a case of this rare combination but with sequence reversal. The patient was unresponsive to steroids and we achieved remission with infliximab.

Learning points: Crohn's disease complicating stable systemic lupus erythematosus is extremely rare.Although it may delay time to diagnosis, it is important to rule out other common causes such as infections and medication-induced colitis.If the patient is steroid unresponsive, infliximab might be a reasonable therapeutic alternative.