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.
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
Specialty: Gastroenterology, Pharmacology, clinical
