Ulcerative colitis after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

A 54-year-old woman with peripheral T cell lymphoma in second complete remi ssion (CR) received an autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PB SCT). Antibiotic-resistant bloody diarrhea, and fever developed 110 days af ter transplant. Blood and stool cultures were negative. Skin rash was not o bserved. Barium enema and colonoscopy showed typical features of pancolonic -type ulcerative colitis (UC). Endoscopic biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of UC. Mesalazine and immunosuppressive therapy improved symptoms dramatica lly. We detected serum antibodies against synthetic tropomyosin (TM) peptid e when UC was diagnosed. We postulate that autoimmunity including autoreact ive anti-TM antibodies may be involved in the pathogenesis of UC after auto logous PBSCT in this patient.