Annals of Internal Medicine · 1993 · 39 citations · 0 references
Veterinary MedicineImmunologyPharmacotherapyClinical ImmunologyImmunopathologyInflammationChronic InflammationCytokine BiologyCytokine-mediated PathologyGastrointestinal ImmunologyGastrointestinal InflammationInflammatory Bowel DiseaseCrohn Disease PathologyHistologic ExaminationHistologic RemissionInflammatory Bowel Disease ImmunopathogenesisInflammatory Bowel Disease PathogenesisInflammatory Bowel Disease PathologyInflammatory Bowel Disease PathophysiologyInflammatory Bowel Disease Therapy
Two patients treated with high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2), who had a history of Crohn disease that was clinically quiescent for 4 and 9 years before therapy, developed symptomatic reactivation of Crohn disease requiring surgical intervention. At laparotomy, both patients had histologic evidence of active Crohn disease. One patient had previously received another cytokine, -interferon-, without disease reactivation, suggesting that this effect was specific for IL-2. The striking temporal relation between the administration of IL-2 and the symptomatic reactivation of previously quiescent Crohn disease suggests the need to carefully evaluate patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease who are considered for IL-2 therapy and provides evidence supporting an important role for IL-2 in the pathogenesis of Crohn disease.