[Ischemic colitic in the elderly: predictive factors of gangrenous outcome]

To better characterize the presentation of gangrenous and non-gangrenous ischemic colitis in subjects older than 60 years, and to identify risk factors of gangrenous outcome.

Retrospective analysis of 80 cases of ischemic colitis (22 male, 58 female; mean age 76.9 +/- 8.7 years) with 64 and 16 non gangrenous and gangrenous forms, respectively.

Hematochezia and diarrhea were significantly less prevalent in gangrenous colitis compared to the non-gangrenous group (31.2% vs 81.2%, P < 0.0001 and 6.2% vs 53.1%, P < 0.0001, respectively), whereas nausea and vomiting, and hyperleukcocytosis were significantly more frequent in the former group (50.0% vs 18.7%, P < 0.01 and 93.7% vs 62.5%, P < 0.02 respectively). Hypertension (P < 0.03), angina (P < 0.05), history of cancer (P < 0.03) and age older than 90 (P < 0.002) were risk factors for gangrenous outcome. After multivariate analysis, only two independent factors were identified, i.e.: hypertension and history of cancer. These factors predicted gangrenous course in 85% of cases.

Patients older than 60 years suffering from ischemic colitis are at high risk of gangrenous course if they have hypertension or history of cancer.