Tacrolimus (FK506) is safe and effective in patients with refractory extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease

Aims: Between five to twenty percent of inflammatory bowel disease patients develop extraintestinal disease manifestations (EIM), which do not always respond to conventional medical or topical therapy. Tacrolimus, a macrolide immunosuppressant inhibiting T-cell activation, is currently approved for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in patients receiving allogeneic liver or kidney transplants. We have recently published the successful use of oral low dose tacrolimus in refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here we report our experience in managing refractory EIM in patients with IBD. Methods: In this retr…