A case of pulmonary thromboembolism in active ulcerative colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease often involves extra-intestinal organs. Cerebral thrombosis, portal vein thrombosis and pulmonary thrombosis have been reported. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism are significant causes of mortality in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A 48-year-old woman was diagnosed as inflammatory bowel disease on colonoscopy and histology. We used hydrocortisone and mesalazine for the treatment of disease. Nineteen days later, she complained of abrupt dyspnea. Pulmonary CT angiography revealed a thromboembolism in right pulmonary arteries. After the treatment of heparin therapy, follow-up pulmonary CT angiography showed significant improvement of previously thrombosed pulmonary arteries.