Sustained clinical response to infliximab in refractory Cronkhite-Canada syndrome.

A 59-year-old man with refractory Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) had poor clinical response to high-dose intravenous steroids, azathioprine, total parenteral nutrition and best supportive care. He remained highly symptomatic with abdominal pain, diarrhoea, recurrent sepsis and profound weight loss. Infliximab induction was given as rescue therapy, with marked clinical improvement observed within 3 weeks.

Activation of the mucosal immune system in irritable bowel syndrome.

Background & Aims: A role for the mucosal immune system in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome is suggested by its association with intestinal infections.

Methods: To investigate this, we performed histologic and immunohistologic studies on colonoscopic biopsy specimens from 77 patients with symptoms satisfying the Rome criteria and 28 asymptomatic control patients.

Results: Histologic assessment of biopsy specimens from symptomatic patients indicated 3 different groups.