Rheumatoid arthritis accompanied by colonic lesions

A 69-year-old woman with a 6-year history of rheumatoid arthritis treated s olely with an orally administered NSAID had slowly progressing persistent m ild abdominal pain and diarrhea, accompanied with marked sing of inflammati on as well as hypoproteinemia due to protein-losing gastroenteropathy. Exam inations of the large intestine revealed variously shaped ulcerative lesion s, centered around the left hemicolon, as well as luminal narrowing. The co urse of the disease and the shape of the lesions strongly suggested involve ment of rheumatoid vasculitis; oral administration of prednisolone was effe ctive.