A rare case of fever as the main symptom of Crohn's disease manifestation

Abstract

Crohn's disease is a chronic, recurring gastrointestinal tract disease of unknown etiology with alternating periods of exacerbations and remissions; however, some patients can have a fulminant disease with predominance of fever. In some cases, extraintestinal manifestations of the disease (arthritis, sacroiliitis, aphthous stomatitis) come to the fore. This paper presents a clinical case of a 46 years old patient Z., who was treated in the Republican Clinical Hospital (Kazan, Russia). His past history was remarkable for a painful ulceration of the oral mucosa about 1.5 months ago, after a planned replacement of a removable prosthesis on the lower jaw. The patient was diagnosed with decubital ulcer of the oral mucosa in the right retro-molar area; malignancies were excluded, and anti-inflammatory therapy was initiated. Then he had fever of up to 39.5 °C and abdominal pains. The infectious causes of fever were excluded, abdominal ultrasound showed no free fluid in the abdominal cavity, and macroscopic segmental erosive-ulcerative changes of the colon, specific for Crohn's disease were found at colonoscopy. Intravenous prednisolone was initiated, with augmentation of infusions and administration of protein and antibacterials. The next day abdominal pain became more severe, with vomiting, abdominal distension, Blumberg's sign; blood pressure was 90/60 mm Hg and heart rate 120 beats per minute. Abdominal ultrasound showed free fluid in the abdominal cavity; dilated intestine loops with horizontal fluid levels were seen at X-ray. The diagnosis was advanced peritonitis, hollow organ perforation, and emergency laparotomy was performed that showed multiple perforations of the colon and sigmoid, diffuse fibrinous-purulent fecal peritonitis. Colectomy and end ileostomy were performed. Despite intensive therapy in the intensive care unit, the patient's general condition continued to worsen, and two days after the operation, with deterioration of cardiovascular failure, he died. Based on the histological examination of the colon and the autopsy results, the diagnosis of Crohn's disease was confirmed. Thus, the presence of febrile fever, as the leading syndrome, without any intestinal symptoms, should be included in the differential diagnostic list of symptoms of Crohn's disease.