[Clinical study of patients with Crohn's disease and lower extremity arterial occlusive].
OBJECTIVE
To conclude clinical character and treatment strategy of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease with Crohn's disease.


METHODS
A female patient suffering lower extremity arterial occlusion and Crohn's disease was admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in 2007. The other 8 similar cases with clinical details were found through a comprehensive literature search from 1966 to 2007. Clinical characters of these 9 cases were concluded.


RESULTS
All the cases were less than 50 years old and mostly female (8/9). Arterial occlusions occurred in either active (5/9) or inactive (4/9) stage of CD. Besides the arteries of lower extremities, other arteries could also be involved such as aorta, iliac artery, renal artery or mesentery artery. 7 cases had atherosclerotic arteriographic findings (4 had aortic artery plaques and 6 had iliac artery stenosis). Embolectomy or thromboendarterectomy were mostly performed. 4 cases (44.4%) had recurrent lower limb ischemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Arterial occlusive disease is a rare extraintestinal manifestation of CD. A thorough inspection of aorta is necessary. Embolectomy is mostly preferred. Anticoagulation treatment is highly recommended after the operation.
Wu
Wei-wei
WW
Vascular Surgery Department, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100032, China.
Liu
Chang-wei
CW
Li
Yong-jun
YJ
Zeng
Rong
R
D000328:Adult; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male