Abstract

Phlebosclerotic colitis is a rare disease sub-entity of ischemic colitis that is caused by venous obstruction due to colonic and mesenteric venous calcifications. Abdominal pain, diarrhea and hematochezia are frequent symptoms of phlebosclerotic colitis. The disease is characterized by typical dark purple mucosa on endoscopy, various venous calcifications on radiological findings, and microscopic findings showing fibrous degeneration, mucosal bleeding and venous wall thickening. A 64-year-old male who was undergoing maintenance hemodialysis was admitted to our hospital due to hematochezia. There was typical dark purple colored mucosa seen on colonoscopy, multiple abdominal calcifications were seen on radiology and diffuse necrosis and inflammatory changes were seen on the histophathology, but there was no mesenteric arterial occlusion seen on abdominal CT. On the basis of these findings, we diagnosed the patient as having phlebosclerotic colitis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of phlebosclerotic colitis in Korea. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2009;38:107-110)

• Keywords: Ischemic colitis, Phlebosclerotic colitis, Chronic renal failure