rss
BMJ Case Reports 2009; doi:10.1136/bcr.11.2008.1218
  • Rare disease

Pseudomembranous colitis in four patients with cystic fibrosis following lung transplantation

  1. B Yates,
  2. D M Murphy,
  3. A J Fisher,
  4. F K Gould,
  5. J L Lordan,
  6. J H Dark,
  7. P A Corris
  1. Institute of Cellular Medicine, University of Newcastle and The Freeman Hospital, High Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
  1. Paul A Corris, paul.Corris{at}ncl.ac.uk
  • Published 8 May 2009

Summary

In the present study, 4 patients with cystic fibrosis undergoing lung transplantation (from a total of 137) who developed fulminant pseudomembranous colitis are described. Initial presentation was variable and the mortality rate was 50% despite urgent colectomy. In one case the presenting abdominal distension was thought to be due to meconium ileus equivalent. It is concluded that Clostridium difficile colitis may be a difficult diagnosis in patients with cystic fibrosis and follows a fulminant course after lung transplantation.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none.

This Article

  1. Summary
  2. Full text

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full text of all Editor's Choice articles and summaries of every article are free without registration

The full text of Images in ... articles are free to registered users

Only fellows can access the full text of case reports (apart from Editor's Choice) - become a fellow today, or encourage your institution to, so that together we can grow and develop this resource

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the case reports as they are published, and let us know what you think by commenting on the Editor's blog