Enterocolic lymphocytic phlebitis: a case report

We report the case of a patient with intestinal ischaemia and necrosis resulting from vasculitis of mesenteric veins and their intramural tributaries. This patient was otherwise healthy, had no prior history of inflammatory bowel disease nor clinical evidence of extra intestinal involvement or systemic vasculitis, and since four years, was treated with hydroxyethyl rutoside (Venoruton). He recovered completely after segmental resection of the affected portion of the bowel and had no recurrence of intestinal symptoms on follow-up of up to three years. The histopathological diagnostic hallmarks of this clinical entity are extensive lesions of lymphocytic phlebitis associated with thrombi of different ages and focal fibrinoid necrosis while arteries and arterioles are not affected. This unusual form of vasculitis affecting veins only is very rare and its etiology unknown.