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Gastrointestinal bleeding due to chronic portal vein thrombosis in ulcerative colitis
Insights
This case study highlights ulcerative colitis complicated by portal vein thrombosis, leading to portal hypertension and digestive bleeding. Potential causes like hypercoagulability and sepsis are explored.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
- Portal hypertension is a serious complication often linked to liver cirrhosis.
Observation:
- A patient with ulcerative colitis experienced recurrent digestive hemorrhage.
- The hemorrhage was attributed to portal hypertension secondary to chronic portal vein thrombosis.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis was confirmed via celiac and mesenteric angiography.
- Review of literature suggests hypercoagulability, thrombocytosis, and intraabdominal sepsis as potential etiologic factors in UC patients with portal vein thrombosis.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering non-hepatic causes of portal hypertension in UC patients.
- Further research into the thrombotic risks associated with inflammatory bowel disease is warranted.
Abstract:
The authors report the case of a patient suffering from ulcerative colitis, who had several episodes of digestive hemorrhage due to portal hypertension. Portal hypertension was secondary to chronic portal vein thrombosis. This diagnosis was made on the venous phase of celiac and mesenteric angiography. The authors review the published cases of ulcerative colitis with portal vein thrombosis and discuss the possible etiologic factors: hypercoagulability, thrombocytosis, and intraabdominal sepsis.