Pleuropericarditis: an extraintestinal complication of inflammatory bowel disease. Report of three cases and review of literature.

We report three cases of pleuropericarditis complicating the clinical course of inflammatory bowel disease. This extraintestinal complication developed in all three patients during the quiescent phase of the disease. One patient had ulcerative colitis, while two patients had Crohn's disease. Aspirin and/or indomethacin were effective in treating two of the three patients, and the third patient required prednisone in addition. Chest symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease should be evaluated to exclude myopericardial-pleural disease.