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Cocaine-associated ischemic colitis.
J D Linder1, K E Mönkemüller, I Raijman
1Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
Southern Medical Journal
|September 27, 2000
Summary
Cocaine use can cause serious gastrointestinal problems, including ischemic colitis. This condition, characterized by abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, requires prompt medical attention, especially in young to middle-aged adults.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Cocaine use is associated with diverse gastrointestinal complications.
- These can range from ulcerations to perforation and ischemia.
Observation:
- This report details three cases of cocaine-associated colonic ischemia.
- A literature review identified a total of 28 reported cases.
Findings:
- The mean age of affected patients was 32.6 years, with a near-equal gender distribution.
- Symptom onset typically occurred within 1-2 days of cocaine ingestion.
Implications:
- Cocaine-induced ischemic colitis is a critical diagnosis in young to middle-aged adults presenting with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea.
- It should be considered in the differential diagnosis, particularly when common causes like estrogen use or thromboembolic disorders are absent.