Proctitis: diagnóstico diferencial. A propósito de un caso

Proctitis is frequently associated to inflammatory bowel diseases, mainly to ulcerative colitis although it can also occur in Crohn's disease. An increased incidence of sexually transmitted diseases has been described, especially in homosexual males, many of whom may develop proctitis. We report the case of a 43 year-old male, HIV positive without antiretroviral treatment with endoscopic and histological proctitis primary related to an inflammatory bowel disease Crohn's type. Given the similarity in clinical presentation, endoscopic and histological findings between infectious proctitis and inflammatory bowel disease, we emphasize the importance of a clinical history that includes sexual risk behaviors and recent trips that might suggest differential diagnosis to avoid delays in diagnosis, prolonged hospital stays, unnecessary tests and erroneous treatments with unintended consequences.