What Researchers Did
Researchers reported on a single patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed a rare bowel condition called pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis after receiving intravenous cyclophosphamide.
What They Found
A 51-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus developed pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis and air in her abdominal cavity after her second dose of intravenous cyclophosphamide. She was successfully treated over three weeks with intravenous nutrition and breathing high concentration oxygen, which resolved both conditions. This was the first case suggesting a link between intravenous cyclophosphamide and this bowel condition.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus receiving intravenous cyclophosphamide should be aware of the rare possibility of developing pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis. If this condition occurs, oxygen therapy, as part of a combined treatment, may be an effective approach to resolve the air in the bowel wall and abdominal cavity.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This study is a single case report, which limits the generalizability of its findings to a broader patient population.