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Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome Associated with Rapid Weight Loss Attributed to Amphetamine Abuse
Richard M Fazio1, On Chen2, Wael Eldarawy3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, 4802 Tenth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219, USA.
Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine
|September 10, 2015
Abstract:
Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome arises from a reduction in the angle formed between the SMA and the aorta, thereby compressing the third portion of the duodenum. This phenomenon may be caused by a number of factors, one of which being acute weight loss. We report a case of a female patient presenting with abdominal pain and vomiting who developed superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome as a result of rapid weight loss, thought to be secondary to amphetamine abuse. This association can often be overlooked and, to our knowledge, has not been previously reported.