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Ischemic colitis during pregnancy and contraceptive medication
J L Frossard1, L Spahr, P E Queneau
1Division of Gastroenterology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. jeans-louis.Frossard@hcuge.ch
Digestion
|October 31, 2001
Summary
Ischemic colitis, often seen in the elderly, can affect young women. Pregnancy and estrogen-based contraceptives may trigger this condition, even without other risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Reproductive Endocrinology
Background:
- Ischemic colitis is typically associated with the elderly and often presents as reversible colopathy.
- Nonocclusive causes include hypovolemia, cardiac dysfunction, and progestational medications.
Observation:
- Two cases of ischemic colitis in young women are presented.
- The first case involved recurrent ischemic colitis during pregnancy.
- The second case was linked to estrogen-containing oral contraceptive use.
Findings:
- Estrogen levels, elevated during pregnancy and from oral contraceptives, are hypothesized as the cause.
- Infectious causes, low blood flow states, and thrombogenic diseases were ruled out.
- Both patients experienced favorable outcomes after episodes.
Implications:
- Physicians should consider pregnancy and estrogen-containing contraceptives as potential causes of ischemic colitis in young women.
- This expands the differential diagnosis for hemorrhagic colitis in this demographic.
- Highlights the potential vascular effects of hormonal fluctuations in younger individuals.