Clin Endosc.  2011 Dec;44(2):129-132. 10.5946/ce.2011.44.2.129.

A Case of Oral-contraceptive Related Ischemic Colitis in Young Woman

• Seon CS
• Park YS
• Park SH
• Ryu SR
• Jo YJ
• Kim SH
• Son BK
• Ahn SB

• KMID: 1805260
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5946/ce.2011.44.2.129

Abstract

Ischemic colitis is generally considered a disease of the elderly. The causes of ischemic colitis include low-flow states due to cardiac dysfunction or hypovolemia and certain medications including estrogen. Here we report a case of ischemic colitis in a 26-year-old woman. She had no specific medical history except taking oral-contraceptives for a long time. The mechanism of estrogen-induced ischemic colitis is not clearly understood. But we recommend that oral-contraceptives should be considered as a cause of ischemic colitis in young women.

Keyword

Ischemic colitis; Oral contraceptives

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Colitis, Ischemic
Contraceptives, Oral
Estrogens
Female
Humans
Hypovolemia
Contraceptives, Oral
Estrogens

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Abdominal computed tomography findings. (A) It shows no obstruction of middle colic branch of superior mesenteric artery in the transaxial view. (B) It shows no obstruction of inferior mesenteric artery in the transaxial view.

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  Fig. 2 Sigmoidscopic findings. (A, B) It shows longitudinal segmental hyperemic mucosa with hemorrhagic spot at descending colon.

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  Fig. 3 Pathologic finding of colonoscopic biopsy. The colonic mucosa shows superficial mucosal necrosis with loss of surface epithelium with hyalinization of lamina propria (H&E stain, ×400).

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