P03-024 – Early onset IBD treated by tocilizumab

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) normally manifest in adolescent and young adults; nevertheless, in about 1% of the cases, disease onset occurs before the 1^st year of age. The clinical picture is often characterized by an indeterminate colitis whose clinical remission is difficult to achieve. Current treatment for IBD consists of either immunosuppressant or biological (Infliximab, Adalimumab) agents.

A girl born from non-consanguineous parents of Swiss, Spanish and Korean origin, presented, at the age of 5 months, with bloody diarrhea, anal tags, vomiting, anorexia, mimicking a severe proctocolitis due to cow’s milk protein allergy, non-responsive to elimination diet. Infections, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis were also excluded. Immunogical investigations, NBT, ANA, ASCA and ANCA were negative, and immunoglobulins were within the normal range.Due to persistent symptoms and failure to thrive, upper and lower endoscopiy was performed showing an ulcerative ileo-pancolitis. The histological analysis confirmed a focally erosive, non-granulomatous ileo-colitis Leading to a differential diagnosis of Crohn’s disease versus indeterminate colitis. The patient clinically improvend with steroids and azathioprine. The follow-up was marked by arthritis of the ankle and knee, and erythema nodosum. She did not present severe or recurrent infections, besides those commonly associated with immunosuppresive therapy. Digestive symptoms were first cortico-dependent and eventually cortico-resistent, therefore, in alternative to azathioprine, infliximab, adalimumab and methotrexate were sequencially introduced. Despite these multiple therapies, a sustained remission could not be achieved. On the basis of the important systemic inflammation associated to joint involvement, the patient was started on tocilizumab, an anti-IL-6 receptor known for its efficacy in sytemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The new treatment was well tolerated and induced a substantial improvement of the digestive and articular symptoms, together with the laboratory parameters, over 6 months follow up.

We report the efficacy of anti-IL-6R therapy in a child affected by a severe early onset IBD, not responding to traditional therapy. Recent works indicate a role of IL-10 pathway in the pathogenesis of early onset colitis. In our patient further immunological and genetical investigations are ongoing.

None declared