Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Additive contribution of multiple factors in the development of pneumatosis intestinalis: a case report and review of the literature

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Clinical Rheumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We describe a 53-year-old patient with dermatomyositis, who developed pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) accompanied by pneumoperitoneum, pneumoretroperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema of the neck. The development of PI in our patient was possibly attributed to the effect of factors such as dermatomyositis, corticosteroids, methotrexate, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (AGI). The coexistence of multiple factors associated with PI might enhance the risk of developing PI, even though each of them alone is not sufficient to induce it. In particular, the use of AGIs for patients treated with immunosuppressive agents such as corticosteroids requires evaluation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  1. Sequira W (1990) Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis in systemic sclerosis and other disorders. Semin Arthritis Rheum 19:269–276

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. St Peter SD, Abbas MA, Kelly KA (2003) The spectrum of pneumatosis intestinalis. Arch Surg 138:68–75

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Heng Y, Schuffler MD, Haggitt RC, Rohrmann CA (1995) Pneumatosis intestinalis: a review. Am J Gastroenterol 90:1747–1758

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cabrera GE, Scopelitis E, Cuellar ML, Silveira LH, Mena H, Espinoza LR (1994) Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis in systemic lupus erythematosus with intestinal vasculitis: treatment with high dose prednisone. Clin Rheumatol 13:312–316

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Pasquier E, Wattiaux MJ, Peigney N (1993) First case of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis in adult dermatomyositis. J Rheumatol 20:499–503

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Morris-Stiff GJ, Williams RJ (1999) Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis in a patient with dermatomyositis. J R Soc Med 92:366–367

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Vincent F, Duboust A, Glotz D (1995) Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis and immunosuppression. Am J Gastroenterol 90:522–523

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ammons MA, Bauling PC, Weil R 3rd (1986) Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis with pneumoperitoneum in renal transplant patients on cyclosporine and prednisone. Transplant Proc 18:1868–1870

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Yanaru R, Hizawa K, Nakamura S, Yoshimura R, Watanabe K, Nakamura U et al (2002) Regression of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis after discontinuing of alpha-glucosidase inhibitor administration. J Clin Gastroenterol 35:204–205

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Joubert PH, Venter HL, Foukaridis GN (1990) The effect of miglitol and acarbose after an oral glucose load: a novel hypoglycaemic mechanism? Br J Clin Pharmacol 30:391–396

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Forgacs P, Wright PH, Wyatt AP (1973) Treatment of intestinal gas cysts by oxygen breathing. Lancet 1:579–582

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masataka Saito.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Saito, M., Tanikawa, A., Nakasute, K. et al. Additive contribution of multiple factors in the development of pneumatosis intestinalis: a case report and review of the literature. Clin Rheumatol 26, 601–603 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-005-0179-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-005-0179-9

Keywords

Navigation