Bezoar by mesalazine tablets: Cause of intestinal obstruction in Crohn's disease

Abstract

The stricturing and fistulizing forms of Crohn's disease (CD) exhibit many different results to clinical treatment and good response to surgical therapy. The prevalence of strictures in CD ranges from 12 to 54% and they are more frequently in patients with longer disease duration, and the terminal ileum is the most commonly affected location. The pharmacobezoars can be formed in any part of the gastrointestinal tract and are often associated with factors predisposing anatomic, functional or other concomitant conditions. The pharmacological properties of drugs may contribute to the pathophysiology of bezoars. The objective of this case report is to alert for the importance of the quality of prescribed medications that are used by patients with CD, through the finding of more than 350 tablets of mesalazine during the surgical treatment of a patient with the fibrostenotic pattern.