Rectal bleeding during pregnancy
De Jonge, H.J.M.H.-M.; Oosterwijk, P.R.; Meijssen, M.A.C.; Flierman, A.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 158(4): A6758
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 1876-8784 PMID: 24447671 Document Number: 673613
Ischaemic colitis is a relatively rare disease that predominantly affects elderly patients. This disorder has varying underlying causes and diverse clinical symptoms. A 29-year-old primigravida was admitted to our hospital with rectal bleeding and diffuse abdominal pain. The number of leucocytes and the CRP were elevated. Because the patient was pregnant a sigmoidoscopy without sedation was performed. The endoscopic image and histopathology of the biopsies revealed ischaemic colitis. Our patient recovered quickly under conservative treatment. Ischaemic colitis is usually self-limiting and a conservative treatment will suffice. Ischaemic colitis during pregnancy has been reported extremely rarely and the aetiology is unknown.