Arterial thrombosis leading to intestinal infarction in a patient with Behcet's disease associated with protein c deficiency

Behcet's disease may be a possible cause of both occlusive and aneurysmal arterial involvement as well as recurrent venous thrombosis. A case of Behcet's disease complicated with vascular involvement leading to intestinal infarction is presented. A 41-yr-old man suffering from Behcet's disease for 15 yr presented with a 2-day history of severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, Intestinal infarction secondary to thrombosis of the superior mesenteric artery had been diagnosed during surgical exploration 3 yr previously. He was started on anticoagulation with nutritional support, The patient was readmitted with severe diarrhea and malabsorbtion symptoms 3 yr after intestinal resection, A thrombus located in the posterior wall of the infrarenal portion of aorta was detected by aortography and ultrasonography, Although thrombosis is a relatively common complication of Behcet's disease caused by vasculitis, protein C deficiency, which is a pertinent laboratory finding in this case, might be a secondary factor in the thrombotic event. This is the first case reported of mesenteric artery thrombosis leading to bowel infarction and abdominal aorta thrombosis associated,vith protein C deficiency. (C) 1998 by Am. Cell, of Gastroenterology.