Ischemic colitis causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hamid Qazi, MD, BSc [2]

Overview

Causes of reduced blood flow leading to ischemic colitis include changes in the systemic circulation such as low blood pressure (hypotension) or local factors such as constriction of blood vessels, a blood clot, or drugs. In most cases, no specific cause can be identified.

Causes

The causes of ischemic colitis are as follows:^[1]^[2]^[3]

Ischemic colitis is often classified according to the underlying cause.
- Non-occlusive ischemia develops because of low blood pressure or constriction of the vessels supplying blood to the colon.
- Occlusive ischemia indicates that a blood clot or other blockage has cut off blood flow to the colon.

Non-occlusive Ischemia

In hemodynamically unstable patients the mesenteric perfusion can be compromised.

Occlusive Ischemia

Obstructive atherosclerotic disease
- Superior mesenteric artery occlusion

Thromboembolism
- Most commonly the embolism is due to atrial fibrillation
- Valvular heart disease including endocarditis
- Myocardial infarction
- Cardiomyopathy

Hernia
Tumor

Drugs

The following drugs cause vasoconstriction which may compromise blood supply to the colon.

References

↑ Hass, David J.; Kozuch, Patricia; Brandt, Lawrence J. (2007). “Pharmacologically Mediated Colon Ischemia”. The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 102 (8): 1765–1780. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01260.x. ISSN 0002-9270.
↑ Theodoropoulou, Αngeliki; Κoutroubakis, Ioannis E (2008). “Ischemic colitis: Clinical practice in diagnosis and treatment”. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 14 (48): 7302. doi:10.3748/wjg.14.7302. ISSN 1007-9327.
↑ Feldman: Sleisenger & Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 7th ed., 2002 Saunders, p. 2332.

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[HassKozuch2007-1] Hass, David J.; Kozuch, Patricia; Brandt, Lawrence J. (2007). “Pharmacologically Mediated Colon Ischemia”. The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 102 (8): 1765–1780. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01260.x. ISSN 0002-9270.

[TheodoropoulouΚoutroubakis2008-2] Theodoropoulou, Αngeliki; Κoutroubakis, Ioannis E (2008). “Ischemic colitis: Clinical practice in diagnosis and treatment”. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 14 (48): 7302. doi:10.3748/wjg.14.7302. ISSN 1007-9327.

[3] Feldman: Sleisenger & Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 7th ed., 2002 Saunders, p. 2332.

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