A fatal case of phlegmonous colitis in chronic hepatitis C receiving combination interferon and ribavirin therapy.

Phlegmonous colitis is an acute suppurative infection of the large bowel that is rarely described, rapidly fatal and often escapes clinical attention. Patients with chronic hepatic diseases appear to be predisposed to this condition. We report a novel case of fatal phlegmonous colitis in a cirrhotic patient receiving combination pegylated interferon and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C, highlighting the importance of early recognition of this aggressive infectious entity.