Korean J Gastroenterol.  2023 Jul;82(1):30-34. 10.4166/kjg.2023.058.

Phlebosclerotic Colitis in a Healthy Young Female with Long-term Herbal Medicine Use

• Kim T
• Lee J
• Na JE
• Park YE
• Park J
• Kim TO

• KMID: 2544937
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2023.058

Abstract

Phlebosclerotic colitis is a rare form of intestinal ischemia. It is caused by calcified peripheral mesenteric veins and a thickened colonic wall. These characteristic findings can be identified on CT and colonoscopy. A 37-year-old female with a history of long-term herbal medicine use presented with acute lower abdominal pain and vomiting of sudden onset. Colonoscopic findings showed dark-blue discolored edematous mucosa and multiple ulcers from the ascending colon to the sigmoid colon. Abdominal CT findings showed diffuse thickening of the colonic wall and calcifications of the peripheral mesenteric veins from the ascending colon to the sigmoid colon. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with phlebosclerotic colitis. We report this rare case of phlebosclerotic colitis in a healthy young female patient with a history of long-term herbal medicine use and include a review of the relevant literature.

Keyword

Female; Ischemic colitis; Herbal medicine

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Plain abdominal radiographic finding showing multiple linear calcifications (arrows) in the right lower quadrant, left lower quadrant, and epigastric area.

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  Fig. 2 Abdominal CT findings (A, B) showing diffuse thickening of the colonic wall from the ascending colon to the sigmoid colon and calcifications of the peripheral mesenteric veins.

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  Fig. 3 Colonoscopic findings (A-C) showing dark-blue discolored edematous mucosa and ulcers from the ascending colon to the sigmoid colon. (A) The ascending colon, (B) The descending colon, and (C) The sigmoid colon.

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  Fig. 4 Follow-up colonoscopic findings (A-C) showing lesion improvement, with regressed multiple erosions, ulcers, and mucosal friability, and the remaining mild dark-blue discolored mucosa. (A) The ascending colon, (B) The descending colon, and (C) The sigmoid colon.

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