Case of ulcerative colitis associated with oesophageal ulcer

A case of ulcerative colitis complicated by oesophageal ulcers is reported. A woman was admitted to our hospital because of exacerbations of ulcerativ e colitis both in 1992 (aged 15 years) and 1995 (aged 18 years). When she w as admitted in 1995 she complained of bloody diarrhoea, sore throat and pai n on swallowing. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed oesophageal ulcers. O esophageal pH monitoring (24-h) showed no evidence of gastrooesophageal ref lux disease. After the patient was treated with Oral prednisolone she showe d considerable improvement clinically and endoscopically. Initial dosage wa s 60 mg/day, and 1 week later, the dosage was gradually dropped since the p atient responded favourably. The improvement of the oesophageal lesions coi ncided with the remission of ulcerative colitis. The oesophageal ulcers are , therefore, thought to be an extracolonic manifestation of ulcerative coli tis.