Acute ischaemia of the lower limbs in the course of active ulcerative pancolitis — a case report and literature review

Abstract

Thromboembolic events represent one of the most serious complications of ulcerative colitis (UC). Two thirds of cases are accounted for by deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism. Complications connected with arterial thrombosis are extremely rare and they mostly affect young adults suffering from severe flare-ups of the disease. We present a case of acute ischaemia of the lower limbs in the course of extensive arterial thrombosis in a 28-year-old woman with newly diagnosed UC. The patient was disqualified from surgical thrombectomy due to peripheral localization of vascular changes. Likewise, undertaking local fibrinolysis was impossible because of recent bleeding in the digestive tract. In view of the lack of improvement after conservative treatment of UC and progression of necrosis, a total proctocolectomy was performed. Over the next 14 months of follow-up, the necrotic foot lesions almost completely healed.
Acta Angiol 2011; 17, 4: 277–285