Possible pathogenetic role for ulcerative colitis in the arthritis, hepatomegaly, and erythema nodosum of common variable immunodeficiency

This report describes a patient with common variable immunodeficiency in whom ulcerative colitis with hepatic disease, arthritis, and erythema nodosum developed. In this setting, a gastrointestinal disturbance progressed from subclinical, microscopic colitis to severe diarrhea with frank malabsorption. Mechanisms for the malabsorption and the clinical and pathologic similarities of the hepatic disease and arthritis in ulcerative colitis and common variable immunodeficiency are discussed.