Maho Iwamoto
Abstract
Crohn’s disease is intractable and is frequently diagnosed in younger people. No clear policies exist regarding medical treatment for seniors with this disease, and its diagnosis and treatment are often hindered by difficulties attributable to comorbidities, complex differential diagnoses, and polypharmacy. We describe an elderly-onset Crohn’s disease patient showing a marked remission-maintaining effect with no adverse events after administration of ustekinumab. A 75-year-old patient with Crohn’s disease and a history of pulmonary tuberculosis had first presented to our hospital at age 64 years, and was hospitalized. Based on physical examinations, colonoscopy, and blood test results, Crohn’s disease was diagnosed. The patient experienced secondary losses of responsiveness to two tumor necrosis factors (TNF)-alpha inhibitors and after repeated hospital admissions, she was administered ustekinumab. The patient’s symptoms, endoscopic findings, Crohn’s Disease Activity Index, serum albumin and physical activity levels improved markedly, and disease remission has been maintained for two years to date. Ustekinumab is an effective treatment option for elderly patients with intractable Crohn’s disease when TNF-alpha inhibitors are ineffective.
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Journal of Blood & Lymph received 443 citations as per Google Scholar report
