| Theme | Ischemic Colitis -- Current Topics | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Ischemic Colitis in Young and Elderly Patients | |
| Publish Date | 2002/11 | |
| Author | Hisao Fujii | Department of Endoscopy, Nara Medical University |
| Author | Hiroshi Matsumoto | First Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University |
| Author | Fumikazu Koyama | First Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University |
| Author | Yoshiyuki Nakajima | First Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University |
| [ Summary ] | To elucidate the characteristics of age-related clinical features of ischemic colitis, the clinical and endoscopic findings of one hundred fifty six patients with ischemic colitis were analyzed. They were divided into a young adult group, under fifty years old (36 cases) and an elderly group, over fifty (120 cases). In the younger group, the clinical features were characterized by trias of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools, along with constipation prior to the onset of symptoms. Endoscopic features were characterized by longitudinal erosions and ulcerations, and patients' clinical courses displayed the transient form of this condition. On the other hand, in the elderly group, many patients had many more complications, some of them exhibiting symptoms of colonic stenosis and gangrenous forms. A history of operations for abdominalaortic aneurysms and a habitual use of steroid hormones may be contributing risk factors for colonic stenosis and the gangrenous form. These findings suggest that ischemic colitis in young patients is not rare, is less severe, and displayed similar symptoms and endoscopic findings to those seen in elderly patients, and that constipation may be related to the pathogenesis of this disease in young patients. |
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