Retractile mesenteritis presenting with malabsorption syndrome. Successful treatment with oral pentoxifylline.
Retractile mesenteritis is a rare benign inflammatory disease of the mesentery. Computed tomographic findings usually suggest the diagnosis, which is confirmed by surgical biopsies. Conservative treatment is empirical, based on corticosteroids, colchicine, immunosuppressive agents and progesterone. Surgical resection is sometimes attempted for definitive therapy, although the surgical approach is often limited. This report describes a 62-year old man with histologically proven retractile mesenteritis presenting with malabsorbtion syndrome, who presented pulmonary tuberculosis after initial therapy with corticosteroids. He was subsequently treated with oral pentoxifylline (800 mg/day), with substantial clinical and radiological improvement.
Kapsoritakis
Andreas N
AN
Department of Gastroenterology, University of Thessaly, School of Medicine, 41110 Larissa, Greece.
Rizos
Christos D
CD
Delikoukos
Stylianos
S
Kyriakou
Despina
D
Koukoulis
Georgios K
GK
Potamianos
Spyros P
SP
D000284:Administration, Oral; D006801:Humans; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015436:Panniculitis, Peritoneal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D010431:Pentoxifylline