# Going Outside the Gut: Immune Thrombocytopenia Presenting as a Rare Extraintestinal Manifestation of Ulcerative Colitis

**Authors:** Ana P Rivera, James R Pellegrini Jr., Tulika Saggar, Melvin V Joy, Atul Sinha, Sandra Gomez, Kaleem Rizvon

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61888 · Cureus · 2024-06-07

## TL;DR

A man with ulcerative colitis also had immune thrombocytopenia, showing how gut inflammation can affect other body systems.

## Contribution

This case report highlights immune thrombocytopenia as a rare extraintestinal manifestation of ulcerative colitis.

## Key findings

- A patient with ulcerative colitis presented with immune thrombocytopenia as an extraintestinal manifestation.
- The patient's condition improved with treatment targeting both ulcerative colitis and immune thrombocytopenia.
- The case emphasizes the need for integrated care in managing complex autoimmune conditions.

## Abstract

A 26-year-old male with no significant medical history presented with hematochezia and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) accompanied by immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) as an extraintestinal manifestation (EIM) of UC. This case report delves into the uncommon overlap between UC, a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease primarily affecting the colon and rectum, and ITP, an autoimmune condition leading to platelet destruction. The patient's atypical presentation and subsequent positive response to a treatment regimen targeting both UC and ITP underscores the necessity for a thorough and multifaceted diagnostic approach in individuals with UC, especially when faced with non-gastrointestinal symptoms like unexplained thrombocytopenia. The findings from this study enhance the understanding of UC's diverse manifestations and highlight its potential intersection with other autoimmune diseases, advocating for integrated care strategies in managing such intricate clinical cases.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** ulcerative colitis (MONDO:0005101), immune thrombocytopenia (MONDO:0002048)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** thrombocytopenia (MESH:D013921), ITP (MESH:D016553), platelet destruction (MESH:D008105), hematochezia (MESH:D006471), symptoms (MESH:D012816), inflammatory bowel disease (MESH:D015212), autoimmune condition (MESH:D001327), UC (MESH:D003093)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11227741/full.md

## References

13 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11227741/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11227741