SARS-CoV-2-triggered lymphocytic colitis

Islam Osama Nassar; Gerald Langman; Mohammed Nabil Quraishi; Naveen Sharma

doi:10.1136/bcr-2021-243003

SARS-CoV-2-triggered lymphocytic colitis

BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Aug 24;14(8):e243003. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2021-243003.

Authors

Islam Osama Nassar¹, Gerald Langman², Mohammed Nabil Quraishi^{3

4}, Naveen Sharma^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Gastroenterology Department, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK Islam.Nassar@uhb.nhs.uk.
² Histopathology Department, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
³ Gastroenterology Department, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
⁴ Microbiome Treatment Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

Abstract

The ability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect the gastrointestinal tract is well described. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are believed to represent a disorganised immune response in genetically predisposed individuals, which are triggered by various environmental factors, notably infections. Here we report a case of chronic watery diarrhoea that was triggered by a SARS-CoV-2 infection. The work-up confirmed a new diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis, and the patient responded favourably to a course of oral budesonide. Clinicians should become vigilant to the possibility of triggered IBD in patients with persistent diarrhoea following a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; gastrointestinal system; infection (gastroenterology); inflammatory bowel disease.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Colitis, Lymphocytic* / chemically induced
Colitis, Lymphocytic* / diagnosis
Colitis, Lymphocytic* / drug therapy
Humans
SARS-CoV-2