title: Three cases of spontaneous isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection is a rare disease that may cause bowel ischemia or aneurysm rupture and subsequent death. Thus, the establishment of a correct diagnosis in the early stage is quite important.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the presentation of 3 patients diagnosed with spontaneous isolated supramesenteric artery dissection and briefly summarize the diagnostic procedure, treatment, and clinical course.
  
  
  METHODS
  We experienced three cases of isolated mesenteric artery dissection in the past 5 years. A definitive diagnosis was obtained by abdominal spiral computed tomography in two cases and angiography in one case. All patients were provided anticoagulation therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One patient died of bowel ischemia, 2 were discharged within 21 days without complications, and one was able to discontinue anticoagulation therapy 12 months after discharge. The remaining patient has continued warfarin, making it difficult to determine the end point of anticoagulation.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Social Insurance Gunma Chuo General Hospital, Gunma, Japan.
authors: Nobuhiro
authors: N
authors: Akuzawa
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Social Insurance Gunma Chuo General Hospital, Gunma, Japan.
authors: Hidenori
authors: H
authors: Seki
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Social Insurance Gunma Chuo General Hospital, Gunma, Japan.
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Oku
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Social Insurance Gunma Chuo General Hospital, Gunma, Japan.
authors: Masayuki
authors: M
authors: Totsuka
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Social Insurance Gunma Chuo General Hospital, Gunma, Japan.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Hatori
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Social Insurance Gunma Chuo General Hospital, Gunma, Japan.
authors: Kunihiko
authors: K
authors: Imai
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Social Insurance Gunma Chuo General Hospital, Gunma, Japan.
authors: Yonosuke
authors: Y
authors: Kitahara
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Social Insurance Gunma Chuo General Hospital, Gunma, Japan.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Aoki
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Social Insurance Gunma Chuo General Hospital, Gunma, Japan.
authors: Masahiko
authors: M
authors: Tashiro
authors: Department of Medicine and Biological Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan.
authors: Masahiko
authors: M
authors: Kurabayashi
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D065666:Mesenteric Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin
keywords: anticoagulation; computed tomography; conservative therapy; dissection; superior mesenteric artery