Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis with systemic sclerosis, limited type resulting in a poor prognosis.

Abstract

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare disease characterized by the presence of multilocular intramural clusters of gas in the alimentary tract and has been considered to have a favorable response to conservative treatment. We describe the first case of limited type of systemic sclerosis (SSc) with PCI. A 74-year-old Japanese woman presented with a 4-month history of an unhealed cutaneous ulcer on the right third finger, along with sclerodactyly of bilateral hands. Proximal skin sclerosis was absent. The patient reported acute abdominal pain, and a diagnosis of PCI was established on plain radiography. The patient died of multiple organ failure 5 months after the development of PCI. PCI is rarely complicated with SSc, and all cases previously reported were associated with diffuse SSc. Because PCI is one of the poor prognostic factors of SSc, we should recognize the presence of this condition even in patients with limited cutaneous involvement.

• Authors: Manabu Hamada, Miki Kayashima, Yoichi Morai, Teiichi Chi Masuda, Kazunori Urabe, Masutaka Furue
• Journal: The American journal of the medical sciences (Am J Med Sci) Vol. 332 Issue 2 Pg. 100-102 (Aug 2006) ISSN: 0002-9629 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16909060 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Fibrinolytic Agents
• Alprostadil

Topics

• Aged
• Alprostadil (administration & dosage)
• Asian People
• Fatal Outcome
• Female
• Fibrinolytic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Japan
• Multiple Organ Failure (etiology)
• Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis (complications, diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology)
• Radiography
• Scleroderma, Systemic (complications, diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology)