Interstitial nephritis associated with ulcerative colitis in monozygotic twins.

Although renal impairment is a rare complication of ulcerative colitis (UC), interstitial nephritis can occur as an idiosyncratic reaction to 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA) treatment for UC. Monozygotic twins developed UC at ages 49 and 51, and they were separately treated at different medical institutes. They did not know that they had the same disease and were treated with the same drug (5-ASA). During the course of 5-ASA treatment, renal impairment diagnosed as interstitial nephritis occurred in both. Granulocyte/monocyte adsorption was initiated, UC remission was achieved and renal function deterioration subsided in both. Drug or treatment responses may be concordant in monozygotic twins with UC. Careful review is important before treatment to avoid serious adverse events.