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Aortic thrombosis during sigmoidoscopy in Behçet's syndrome
Archives of Internal Medicine
|February 1, 1983
Summary
Proctosigmoidoscopy can trigger rare aortic thrombosis in Behçet's syndrome patients. Mechanical trauma during the procedure led to paraparesis, which resolved after thrombectomy, highlighting a potential risk for those with clotting predispositions.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Rheumatology
- Neurology
Background:
- Behçet's syndrome is a rare multisystem vasculitis.
- Sigmoidoscopy is a common diagnostic procedure.
- Aortic thrombosis is a serious complication.
Observation:
- A patient with Behçet's syndrome developed acute paraparesis during sigmoidoscopy.
- An aortogram revealed distal abdominal aortic thrombosis.
- Thrombectomy successfully restored neurologic function.
Findings:
- The removed clot showed a high concentration of polymorphonuclear granulocytes.
- Mechanical trauma during sigmoidoscopy is hypothesized as the cause of the vascular lesion.
- This suggests a link between the procedure and aortic thrombosis in susceptible individuals.
Implications:
- Proctosigmoidoscopy may pose a risk for patients with Behçet's syndrome or similar thrombotic predispositions.
- Awareness of this potential complication is crucial for patient safety.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanism and identify at-risk patients.