Ischemic colitis

Alternative names:

acute interstitial ischemia

Definition:

An inflammation caused by interference with the blood flow to the large intestine.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Interference with blood flow to the colon is the cause of ischemic colitis. It affects people over 50, and many have a history of peripheral vascular disease. Other risk factors include use of oral contraceptives; previous aortic surgery with inadvertent damage to the artery supplying the colon; history of stroke; history of low blood pressure; and abdominal radiation exposure. The incidence is 3 out of 10,000 people.