Abstract

ORTEGA-CHAVARRIA, María José et al. Neutropenic colitis. Med. interna Méx. [online]. 2018, vol.34, n.3, pp.412-417. ISSN 0186-4866.  https://doi.org/10.24245/mim.v34i3.1909.

Neutropenic colitis is a severe condition that has an infrequent presentation in patients with some type of immunocompromise, mainly those with hematological neoplasm. The physiopathology by which it develops remains unknown. The damage of the intestinal mucosa associated with the reduction of the neutrophil numbers are the main peculiarities, presenting as initial lesion intestinal edema, vascular congestion and lesion of the surface of the intestinal mucosa, which becomes vulnerable to intramural bacterial invasion. During the treatment with chemotherapeutic agents, the intestinal mucosa is affected, and predisposed to distention and necrosis, affecting intestinal motility. Within the chemotherapeutic agents the most recognized are cytosine arabinoside, daunorubicin and vincristine. The initial treatment consists of aggressive hydration and broad-spectrum antibiotics; in case of acute complications, such as intestinal torsion or perforation, surgical treatment should be considered.

Keywords : Neutropenic colitis; Hematological neoplasm.