Recovery from COVID-19 Pneumonia in a Patient with Acute Severe Colitis
inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, colitis, coronavirus infections, COVID-19
Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased concern regarding SARS-CoV-2 infection in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, especially those on immunosuppressive therapies or with active disease. There are limited reports describing the clinical features of COVID-19 in an IBD population, and the impact of immunosuppression on the severity of the infection remains unclear. Case Report: A 33-year-old female patient with a long history of ulcerative colitis, poorly controlled, was admitted with COVID-19 a few days after being discharged from the hospital for treatment of acute severe ulcerative colitis. High-risk factors for COVID-19 complications, i.e., high-dose steroids (40 mg prednisone) and severe active disease, were present at admission. Despite the development of extensive pulmonary involvement, the patient had a favorable outcome. Discussion: Management of IBD patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging. Measures to minimize the potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, including strict social distancing and self-isolation, in the IBD population have been recommended, especially for high-risk patients. Although steroid tapering and persistence of biologics are advised by professional groups, the best treatment strategy for IBD patients presenting a flare during the outbreak has yet to be defined.
Jane Oba, Karoline Soares Garcia, Bruna Damásio Moutinho, Matheus Freitas Cardoso de Azevedo, Natalia Sousa Freitas Queiroz, Luciane Reis Milani, Lucas Navarro Sanches, Luisa Leite Barros, Alexandre de Sousa Carlos, Aderson Omar Mourão Cintra Damião, Aytan Miranda Sipahi
Diseases of the digestive system. Gastroenterology