Fatal ulcerative panenteritis following colectomy in a patient with ulcerative colitis

A 37-year-old man, previously submitted to colectomy for ulcerative pancolitis unresponsive to medical therapy, presented with nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, and bloody diarrhea. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed mucosal friability, petechiae, and erosions throughout the duodenum, whereas prestomal ileum showed large ulcers and pseudopolyps. Histologically, a dense inflammation chiefly composed of lymphocytes and plasma cells with few neutrophils was detected. No bacteria, protozoa, and fungi could be detected. Despite intensive care, intravenous antibiotics and steroids, the patient died of diffuse intravascular coagulation and multiorgan failure. At post-mortem examination severe ulcerative lesions were observed scattered throughout the duodenum up to the distal ileum. The dramatic clinical presentation with fatal outcome, the widespread ulcers throughout the intestine, and the histological picture are peculiar features in our patient which can not be ascribed to any type of the ulcerative jejunoenteritis so far reported. Patients with pancolitis and diffuse ileal involvement do not necessarily have Crohn's disease but rather may have ulcerative colitis.