Recurrent Inflammatory Myositis as an Extra-Intestinal Manifestation of Dormant Ulcerative Colitis in a Patient on Long-Term Mesalamine

Myositis as an Extraintestinal Manifestation of Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that is thoroughly studied and known to have a strong genetic component. It affects the mucosa and submucosa of the colon and rectum, causing diffuse friability and superficial erosions leading to bleeding. Common presenting symptoms include diarrhea that is often bloody or purulent and abdominal pain or cramping. There are also extraintestinal manifestations of UC such as cutaneous rashes, eye inflammation, and oral ulceration. A rarer manifestation of IBD is myositis, either dermatomyositis, polymyositis, or even rhabdomyolysis. Based on the literature review, myositis has been documented more so in cases of Crohn's disease versus UC. In this report, we discuss a patient with known UC who presented during a flare and subsequently complained of diffuse myalgia. She was found to have an elevated creatine kinase (CK), thus suggesting some form of myositis. We will review possible pathogenesis and other cases of UC presenting with myositis that have been documented.

Severe Lupus Myocarditis Preceded by Mesalazine-induced Lupus

In drug-induced lupus (DIL), symptoms similar to those of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) usually resolve after discontinuation of the offending drug. A 41-year-old-woman with a history of ulcerative colitis presented with polyarthritis and myositis and was positive for anti-double stranded (ds) DNA IgG antibody. After discontinuation of mesalazine, the symptoms resolved, and the antibody titer decreased. The patient was diagnosed with DIL. Six months later, lupus myocarditis developed. After treatment with glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide, intravenous immunoglobulin, and an intra-aortic balloon pump, she showed dramatic improvement. Patients with DIL and an immunological predisposition, such as anti-dsDNA antibodies, may have SLE and should be carefully monitored.

[A case of localized fasciitis with ulcerative colitis]

A 36-year-old man with ulcerative colitis presented with bloody stools at the beginning of October 2020. His condition had been stable without treatment since diagnosis 4 years prior. He was administered 4,000 mg of salazosulfapyridine orally and the bloody stools resolved. Fifteen days after treatment, he was admitted to our hospital with swelling and pain in his right lower leg. Laboratory results revealed an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (43 mm/hr) and mildly elevated C-reactive protein levels (4.08 mg/dl). His D-dimer level was also elevated at 7.6 μg/ml. MRI using fat saturated T₂-weighted imaging demonstrated marked hyperintensity in the fascia of the lower leg flexor and blood vessels of interstitial. In gadolinium-enhanced T₁-weighted images, the deep veins were found to be dilated and the vein walls and their surrounding areas strongly contrasted, suggestive of localized fasciitis. No abnormalities were found on biopsy of his right gastrocnemius muscle on the 5th day after admission. Two days after the muscle biopsy, the patient began experiencing swelling and pain in his left lower leg. The high intensity lesions in his right leg were reduced on MRI performed the same day, but that of the fascia between the left gastrocnemius and soleus muscles was noted. We administered 60 mg (1.0 mg/kg/day) of prednisolone orally on day 9 and the pain and swelling in both legs promptly resolved. The prednisolone was tapered to 5 mg/day and as of the time of writing, resolution of pain and swelling has been maintained. Gastrocnemius myalgia syndrome, which causes pain and localized fasciitis, is often reported as a complication of Crohn's disease but is rare in conjunction with ulcerative colitis. It is important that clinicians are aware of this syndrome so it can be recognized early and successfully treated.