Abstract

Nonspecific and idiopathic ulcer of the small bowel or colon is a rare condition, and it is the so called "simple ulcer" when the patients do not have systemic symptoms of Behcet's syndrome. Differentiation of simple ulcer from intestinal Behcet's disease according to the endoscopic and pathologic findings is often impossible and the clinical course of the 2 maladies is similar. A 51-year-old man presented with low abdominal pain, and colonoscopy revealed a huge deep ulceration with an entero-enteric fistula in the terminal ileum. He was diagnosed with simple ulcer without the constitutional symptoms of Behcet's syndrome. He was refractory to conventional therapy with corticosteroids and antibiotics, and so he required surgical resection. Monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-Ձ (Infliximab) was administered at 0, 2 and 6 weeks. His symptoms were relieved after the therapy and the ulceration had completely resolved after 1 year. He was entirely asymptomatic at the 36 month follow up. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2010;41:56-60)

• Keywords: Behcet syndrome, Tumor necrosis factor-Ձ;, Infliximab