Antimycobacterial chemotherapy in inflammatory bowel disease

Biomed Pharmacother. 1989;43(2):141-3. doi: 10.1016/0753-3322(89)90143-1.

Abstract

We report on a case, ulcerative colitis and another of Crohn's disease. During a relapse which was unresponsive to conventional therapy, acid-fast bacilli were found in colonic biopsies. Conventional therapy was substituted with antimycobacterial chemotherapy (rifampicin, isoniazid and ethambutol) which was responsible for a marked improvement. However, a relapse occurred during chemotherapy and no acid-fast bacilli were found. The patients became responsive to sulphasalazine and corticosteroid therapy once again. It appears that Mycobacteria play a collateral role in inflammatory bowel disease and that once they have been eliminated the original disease re-emerges.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / drug therapy*
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / microbiology
  • Crohn Disease / drug therapy*
  • Crohn Disease / microbiology
  • Ethambutol / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Isoniazid / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium / drug effects*
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use
  • Sulfasalazine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Sulfasalazine
  • Ethambutol
  • Isoniazid
  • Rifampin