An unusual case of ulcerative colitis with concurrent extraintestinal manifestations of primary sclerosing cholangitis, thromboembolism, hemolytic anemia, and hemochromatosis

Cheng-Han Wu¹, Jau-Min Wong², Song-Chou Hsieh¹, Chia-Li Yu¹
Divisions of ¹Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology and ²Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Received: April 7, 2004 Revised: April 16, 2004 Accepted: July 9, 2004

Corresponding author: Chia-Li Yu, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, , Taiwan. E-mail:

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of intestines associated with a large number of extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) which significantly contribute to its morbidity and mortality. A 32-year-old man presented with ulcerative colitis (UC) accompanied by the unusual coexisting clinical manifestations of primary sclerosing cholangitis, thromboembolism, and hemolytic anemia during the disease course. The incidental finding of hemochromatosis of the liver was attributed to chronic hemolysis. The full-blown EIMs and systemic complications in this patient did not appear to be attributable to drug treatment and/or infection but might have been related to both the underlying immune-mediated mechanism and the lack of early and adequate treatment for UC and its associated complications. This case emphasizes the need for early and aggressive treatment of IBD accompanied by EIMs to avoid morbidity and mortality.

Key words: Hemochromatosis, hemolytic anemia, sclerosing cholangitis, thromboembolism, ulcerative colitis

J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2005;38:224-229.