Mesenteric vascular disease

Symptoms of long-term (chronic) mesenteric artery ischemia caused by hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis):

• Abdominal pain after eating
• Diarrhea

Symptoms of sudden (acute) mesenteric artery ischemia due to a traveling blood clot:

• Diarrhea
• Sudden severe abdominal pain
• Vomiting

In acute mesenteric ischemia, blood tests may show a higher than normal white blood cell (WBC) count and changes in the blood acid level.

A CT scan may show problems with the blood vessels and the intestine.

A mesenteric angiogram is a test that involves injecting a special dye into your bloodstream to highlight the arteries of an intestine. Then x-rays are taken of the area. This can show the location of the blockage in the artery.

Previous Section

Mesenteric artery ischemia Overview

Next Section

Mesenteric artery ischemia Treatment

Review Date: 01/20/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)