A CASE OF PSEUDOMEMBRANOUS COLITIS ASSOCIATED WITH RIGHT PLEURAL EFFUSION

Abstract

A 51-years-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of dyspnea, diarrhea and abdominal fullness. In spite of the administration of several kinds of antibiotics, such as imipenem/cilastatin and ceftazidime, diarrhea and pyrexia continued. Small amount of ascites as well as massive right pleural effusion were observed in chest X-p and abdominal CT. Sigmoidoscopic examination revealed multiple yellow-white, hemispherically protuberated pseudomembranes in the mucosa of rectum, and the culture of stool showed positive for Clostridium difficile toxin. The diagnosis of pseudomem-branous colitis was made on the basis of these findings. Administration of vancomycin led to the immediate improvement of all symptoms, including pleural effusion and ascites. This is a very rare case of pseudomembranous colitis associated with ascites and massive pleural effusion.