Abstract
We present an unusual case of a 31-year-old nulliparous woman who was in her normal
state of health until 3 weeks before her Emergency Department visit, when she began
to have generalized abdominal pain that got acutely worse over a few days. She had
a soft abdomen, but complained of excruciating pain. Her computed tomography (CT)
scan revealed thrombosis in the superior mesenteric, splenic, and portal veins. Her
hematological work-up detected a protein S deficiency, which is associated with recurrent
venous thrombosis. The finding of mesenteric venous thrombosis associated with protein
S deficiency is rare. The most important factor in survival is early diagnosis and
prompt treatment with anticoagulants. Properly treated, patients with mesenteric venous
thrombosis should have a good long-term prognosis. Past medical or family history
of thrombosis in combination with abdominal symptoms should increase the suspicion
for the disease.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 07, 2008
Accepted:
May 11,
2007
Received in revised form:
January 29,
2007
Received:
August 22,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.