A patient with Crohn's disease may develop a bowel perforation following initiation of infliximab (anti-TNF alpha) therapy.
Patient selection: Crohn's disease, on infliximab
Risk factors:
(1) bowel stricture
Rarely the perforation may occur soon after starting therapy.
Presentation:
(1) severe abdominal pain
(2) protracted emesis
(3) abdominal distension
The diagnosis requires exclusion of alternative causes for bowel perforation.
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Specialty: Gastroenterology, Pharmacology, clinical