Spontaneous intraabdominal haemorrhage caused by segmental mediolytic arteritis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus--an underestimated entity of autoimmune origin?

[Rectal Ulcer Developed in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus without Ischemic Colitis]

Rectal involvement by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is quite rare. Approximately 14 cases have been reported worldwide, but only one with ischemic colitis has been reported in Korea. A 17-year-old female patient was hospitalized with abdominal pain and hematochezia. Sigmoidoscopy revealed only a simple rectal ulcer without ischemic colitis. cytomegalovirus and bacterial infections were excluded. A sigmoidoscopic rectal biopsy indicated a rectal invasion by SLE, but the patient showed an acute worsening conditions that did not respond to treatment. This paper reports a case of rectal ulcer that developed in SLE without ischemic colitis with a review of the relevant literature.

A Case of Segmental Arterial Mediolysis Presenting as Mucosal Gastric Hematoma

Background

Although segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) has been increasingly recognized as arteriopathy and there are some case reports about SAM, it is still very rare. It is characterized clinically by aneurysm, dissection, stenosis, and occlusion within splanchnic arterial branches, causing intra-abdominal hemorrhage or bowel ischemia. Mortality is as high as 50% in acute events.

Case Presentation

A 51-year-old man was referred to our hospital with hematemesis. Gastroscopy revealed a submucosal-like tumor on the posterior wall of gastric angle with ulceration. Computed tomography indicated a tumor measuring 65 × 50 mm in the stomach, which was suspected to have invaded into the pancreas. Significant hematemesis recurred; the patient developed shock and underwent emergency distal gastrectomy, distal pancreatectomy, and splenectomy. The pathology and the clinical course were compatible with SAM splenic artery rupture causing retroperitoneal hemorrhage that penetrated into the stomach. After that surgery, aneurysm of common hepatic artery ruptured and coil embolization was performed.

Conclusion

SAM is an important cause of intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal hemorrhage in patients without underlying disease. SAM typically presents as intra-abdominal hemorrhage, but, in this case, the retroperitoneal hemorrhage penetrated into the stomach and it looked like a submucosal tumor.

Fatal hemoperitoneum due to segmental arterial mediolysis

Spontaneous hemoperitoneum due to vascular injury is a life-threatening condition mostly associated with aortic or splanchnic arterial disease, which stems from atherosclerotic, inflammatory, or infectious origin. However, in 1976, Slavin and Gonzales described a nonatherosclerotic arterial disease that may render aneurysmal formation predominantly in the splanchnic arterial bed. The clinical presentation is diverse, but abdominal pain and shock prevail. We report the case of a middle-aged man who presented a hemoperitoneum due to a middle colic artery aneurysm rupture and died after undergoing a surgical treatment attempt. The preoperative imaging study revealed the presence of a huge hematoma in the epiplon retrocavity, and abdominal free liquid as well as extensive arterial disease with multiple aneurysms. The autopsy findings included hemoperitoneum, hematoma in the upper left abdominal quadrant, the surgical ligature of the middle colic artery, and histologic features consistent with segmental arterial mediolysis. The authors call attention to this rare entity and highlight the autopsy as a fundamental examination to accurately reach this diagnosis.

Longitudinal Evaluation of Segmental Arterial Mediolysis in Splanchnic Arteries: Case Series and Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is a rare non-atherosclerotic, non-inflammatory vascular disorder varying widely in clinical course. The purpose of this study is to analyze detailing clinical and imaging manifestations over time in patients with SAM through a literature review and to suggest an optimal management strategy.

METHODS

A retrospective review of eight consecutive patients diagnosed with SAM between January, 2000 and January, 2012 was conducted. All presented with acute-onset abdominal or flank pain. Clinical features, imaging studies, and laboratory findings served as grounds for diagnosis, having excluded more common conditions (ie, fibromuscular dysplasia, collagen vascular disorders, or arteritis). CT angiography was done initially and repeated periodically (Week 1, Month 3, then yearly). Treatment was conservative, utilizing endovascular intervention as warranted by CT diagnostics. In a related systematic review, all English literature from 1976 to 2015 was screened via the PubMed database, assessing patient demographics, affected arteries, clinical presentations, and treatment methods.

FINDINGS

Ultimately, 25 arterial lesions identified in eight patients (median age, 62.8 years; range, 40-84 years) were monitored for a median period of 26 months (range, 15-57 months). At baseline, celiac axis (3/8, 37.5%), superior mesenteric (4/8, 50%), and common hepatic (2/8, 25%) arteries were involved, in addition to isolated lesions of right renal, splenic, right colic, middle colic, gastroduodenal, left gastric, right gastroepiploic, proper hepatic, right hepatic, and left hepatic arteries. Compared with prior publications, celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery were more commonly affected in cohort. Arterial dissections (n = 8), aneurysms (n = 5), stenoses or occlusions (n = 4), and a single pseudoaneurysm were documented. Despite careful conservative management, new splanchnic arterial lesions (n = 4) arose during follow-up. Considering the few available reports of new arterial lesions in the literature, newly developing pathology is a distinctive feature of our patients, four of whom eventually required endovascular interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Careful clinical observation via periodic CT angiography is required in patients with SAM, checking for newly developing lesions. The natural history of SAM should be clarified in a larger patient population.

Segmental arterial mediolysis of left gastric artery: a case report and review of pathology

BACKGROUND

Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is a rare non inflammatory vascular disease that can present with massive haemorrhage, which may lead to death without prompt surgical intervention.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 60 years old Aboriginal female presented with life threatening, spontaneous intra-abdominal bleeding requiring an emergency laparotomy. The source of bleeding was found to be ruptured left gastric artery. A total gastrectomy was performed as a damage control procedure. A staged Roux-en-Y oesophago-jejunostomy with Hunt Lawrence pouch reconstruction was undertaken thirty six hours later. Histopathological findings revealed evidence of non-inflammatory segmental vascular damage with microaneurysm, consistent with segmental arterial mediolysis.

CONCLUSION

Prompt resuscitation and surgical intervention can decrease the morbidity and mortality in this rare clinical entity.

Segmental arterial mediolysis: a systematic review of 85 cases

BACKGROUND

Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is a nonatherosclerotic, noninflammatory arteriopathy of unknown etiology with life-threatening manifestations. With advances in endovascular techniques, SAM is increasingly being managed without the need for major surgery.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature published on SAM between 1976 and 2012 was performed, focusing on arterial involvement, diagnostic imaging modalities, mortality and morbidity rates, and in particular treatment outcomes with open versus endovascular intervention.

RESULTS

Sixty-two studies reporting on 85 cases of SAM were reviewed. Sixty-nine percent of cases were diagnosed histologically (24% on autopsy). Angiography was the most common form of diagnostic imaging modality (56% of cases). Arterial involvement was largely abdominal or cranial, with splenic arterial involvement being the most prevalent (29% of cases). There was a total SAM-related mortality of 26%. Endovascular intervention, most commonly in the form of coil embolization of aneurysmal vessel(s), was successful in 88% of cases where attempted, with no reported mortality. There was a mortality rate of 9% where open surgery was attempted.

CONCLUSIONS

Catheter-based endovascular techniques can be a successful, minimally invasive treatment option in the management of this potentially life-threatening condition, and may also provide a temporary bailout measure in the acute phase before definitive surgical treatment at a later stage.

Segmental arterial mediolysis: report of 2 cases and review of the literature

Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is an idiopathic noninflammatory vasculopathy involving small to medium arteries, usually in the abdomen, although arteries in the cerebral and coronary circulations also may be affected. Some cases present as abdominal apoplexy due to aneurysmal rupture, but ischemia and infarction also occur. Not uncommonly, SAM may be misdiagnosed as a systemic necrotizing vasculitis. We present 2 patients with bilateral renal infarctions, cerebral arterial dissections, and visceral artery microaneurysms. Both were diagnosed initially as polyarteritis nodosa. The diagnosis was changed to SAM, in one case based on clinical and radiologic features, and in the other, on an open wedge kidney biopsy. We discuss the differential diagnosis and review the literature on SAM.

Spontaneous dissection with rupture of the superior mesenteric artery from segmental arterial mediolysis

Spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is rare. We report a case of rupture of the SMA after spontaneous dissection in a 51-year-old male who presented with acute onset of abdominal pain and hypotension. The patient was initially treated with intravenous fluid resuscitation and endovascular intervention followed by open surgery. No identifiable cause for dissection was found. The patient was diagnosed as having segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM). The patients' presentation, treatment, outcome, and all relevant imaging, pathologic, and laboratory studies were reviewed. The relevant features of the case and SAM are presented herein. In addition, a review of all available published literature on SAM to date is presented.

Segmental arterial mediolysis with accompanying venous angiopathy: a clinical pathologic review, report of 3 new cases, and comments on the role of endothelin-1 in its pathogenesis

The authors review 20 cases of segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) including 3 newly reported cases. SAM developed in areas of vascular distention in 2 of the latter cases: 1 in utero in the heart of a recipient of a twin transfusion syndrome and the other in the jejunum secondary to partial venous obstruction. In the third case, it occurred in a patient with Raynaud disease. Characterizing SAM are injurious and reparative lesions that occur in the media and/or at the adventitial medial junction. Four distinctive alterations are recognized: (1) mediolysis, (2) a tearing separation of the outer media from adventitia, (3) arterial gaps, and (4) a florid reparative response that replaces zones of mediolysis and fills areas of medial adventitial separation. The repair can transform SAM into lesions indistinguishable from common types of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD.) A venous angiopathy involving large and medium-sized veins accompanies SAM. It features medial muscle vacuolar change with lysis leading to apparent separation of residual muscle bundles. Immunostaining shows endothelin-1 (ET-1) decorating adventitial capillaries in SAM and neighboring arteries, in capillaries of adjoining tissues, and outlining smooth muscle cell membranes in adjacent veins including those of the venous angiopathy. The significance of these changes is uncertain. Vasospasm is believed to cause SAM, but ET-1 is not the direct pressor agent responsible for this condition. The reason(s) for synthesis and release of ET-1 in SAM are still hypothetical, but local perturbations in vascular tone may be an important factor. ET-1 may be indirectly play a role in SAM by cross-talking and potentiating the activities of other vasoconstrictors such as norepinephrine and by orchestrating its reparative phase.

A case report of segmental arterial mediolysis

We report a case of 58-year-old woman with a ruptured dissecting aneurysm of the middle colic artery (MCA). Her initial manifestation was sudden and severe right-sided abdominal pain, followed by hemorrhagic shock and acute anemia. Abdominal CT showed a right retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Emergency catheter angiography and therapeutic coil embolization of the middle colic artery were performed and micro aneurysms were enhanced in the jejunal branch. Immunological tests showed nothing abnormal. Follow-up angiography after 3 months showed that the micro aneurysms had disappeared. The patient was diagnosed as having segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM), because no definitive evidence of atherosclerosis and polyarteritis nodosa were observed. SAM is a rare disease of unknown etiology. The arterial lesions developing in elderly patients are characterized by segmental lysis of the abdominal splanchnic arteries resulting in aneurysms, and acute bleeding in a skip pattern. Multiple aneurysms and abdominal pain due to the rupture of these lesions in SAM resemble the clinical findings in polyarteritis nodosa. Differential diagnosis of the two diseases is important because steroid therapy is not beneficial for SAM.

Segmental Arterial Mediolysis: CTA Findings at Presentation and Follow-Up

OBJECTIVE

Segmental arterial mediolysis is a rare noninflammatory vascular disease of the abdominal splanchnic arteries. The purpose of our study was to retrospectively describe the CT angiography (CTA) findings of this disease and the evolution of those findings over time in five patients.

CONCLUSION

Comparison of CTA and digital subtraction angiography suggests that CTA is useful to diagnose symptomatic segmental arterial mediolysis. Midterm CTA follow-up (median, 3 years) indicates that segmental arterial mediolysis lesions may resolve or remain unchanged.

Bilateral extensive cerebral infarction and mesenteric ischemia associated with segmental arterial mediolysis in two young women

Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is a rare non-atherosclerotic non-inflammatory vascular disease that affects mainly muscular arteries of the splanchnic and cerebral territories. Reported herein are two cases of SAM in young women with fatal outcome. One of the patients had an atypical form of the disease, which primarily affected small intestinal submucosal and subserosal arteries, and resulted in acute mesenteric ischemia. The other had bilateral brain infarction with SAM of internal carotid arteries (ICA). Pathological examination of both cases did not reveal the cause of blood flow disturbance: large mesenteric branches of the former and ICA of the latter were free of either dissection or thrombosis; in addition, small intestinal arteries of the first patient did not show signs of vasculitis. These findings suggest that unusual pathways of arterial occlusion and dissection may occur in the context of SAM.

Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report and review of literature

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a tendency for fatal spontaneous rupture leading to massive haemorrhage. A 64-year-old man presented with sudden, severe epigastric pain for 6 h. Systolic blood pressure was 80/50 mmHg, and pulse rate was 100/min. The patient's history did not reveal any operation or disease up to date. Contrast enhancement-axial computed tomography (CT) scan showed a tumoral lesion with a necrotic centre measuring 6 x 5 cm within 6th segment of the liver and a fluid collection (haemoperitoneum) at the periphery of the liver. At exploratory laparotomy, the liver was found to be cirrhotic, and an actively bleeding tumour confirmed in 6th segment of the liver. The tumour was resected. Post-operative recovery was unremarkable, and the patient was discharged on the 14th post-operative day. Ruptured HCC should be included in the differential diagnosis of non-traumatic intra-abdominal haemorrhage.

Berry splenic artery aneurysm rupture in association with segmental arterial mediolysis and portal hypertension

A rare case of berry splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) rupture associated with segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) and portal hypertension is reported. A 66-year-old woman, diagnosed as having liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension 6 years earlier, suddenly developed a lancinating pain in the upper abdomen and lost consciousness. She recovered consciousness while being transferred to hospital by ambulance. During the investigations, her level of consciousness suddenly deteriorated. Ultrasonography showed a massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage, and she died 5(1/2) h after admission. On gross examination at autopsy it was not possible to find the rupture point of the vessel because the pancreas was embedded in a massive hematoma. However, careful dissection of the pancreatic tail after fixation revealed a berry aneurysm measuring 0.8 cm in diameter in a branch adjacent to the bifurcation in the distal third of the main splenic artery. Microscopic examination detected a rupture of the aneurysm. The histology of the arterial wall proximal to the aneurysm showed typical SAM. In general, berry SAA caused by SAM is rare and unlikely to rupture. The SAA in the present case likely occurred and ruptured due to the combination of SAM and portal hypertension.

Treatment of Three Pancreaticoduodenal Artery Aneurysms Associated with CœLiac Artery Occlusion and Splenic Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A case of three pancreaticoduodenal artery (PDA) aneurysms associated with coeliac artery occlusion and a concomitant splenic arterial aneurysm is described. Surgical treatment was used because it was anticipated that the hepatic blood supply would be obstructed completely if percutaneous transluminal embolization for three PDA aneurysms were performed. Splenectomy in continuity with the splenic artery aneurysm and PDA aneurysmectomies were performed, and infrarenal abdominal aorto-splenic artery bypass was accomplished using a 6mm ringed expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft. The postoperative course was uneventful. Graft patency and successful aneurysm ablation were confirmed using MRA and intravenous DSA. Arterial histology revealed segmental arterial mediolysis. At 2-year follow-up, the patient was well and asymptomatic. A literature review of PDA aneurysms is presented.

Coexistence of cystic medial necrosis and segmental arterial mediolysis in a patient with aneurysms of the abdominal aorta and the iliac artery

Segmental arterial mediolysis is an unusual arterial lesion for which pathogenesis has remained controversial. We report on a 47-year-old Japanese woman who underwent surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm that was 10.5 cm in diameter and contiguous with a left common iliac aneurysm that was 2.3 cm in diameter; the aneurysms were considered to have progressed rapidly in size. Pathologic examinations of the respective aneurysms showed cystic medial necrosis in the aortic and segmental arterial mediolysis in the iliac aneurysm. Coexistence of these two pathologic findings indicates that there may be a strong relation between these two disease entities.

A case of segmental mediolytic arteriopathy involving both intracranial and intraabdominal arteries

Segmental mediolytic arteriopathy (SMA) is an uncommon nonatherosclerotic and nonvasculitic arteriopathy. This disease is characterized by lytic degeneration of the arterial media, intramural dissection and thrombosed or ruptured aneurysm. SMA mainly involves the intraabdominal arterial system, resulting in intraabdominal and retroperitoneal hemorrhage. However, only a few cases of SMA with involvement of intracranial arteries have been reported. Here, we present a case of SMA developing subarachnoid hemorrhage due to dissection of the internal carotid and vertebral arteries. This patient was a 48-year-old male who died 13 days after admission for sudden loss of consciousness. Computed tomography showed subarachnoid hemorrhage. At autopsy, the affected vessels included the right vertebral, left internal carotid, superior mesenteric, bilateral renal and left external iliac arteries. Histopathologically, the arteries showed segmental lytic degeneration and disappearance of medial smooth muscle cells, medial dissection and formation of pseudo-aneurysms, the wall of which consisted of a thin membrane of the adventitia. These histopathological features mimicked an entire wall dissection type of intracranial dissecting aneurysm, which exclusively affects the vertebro-basilar system. Thus, SMA should be considered a possible underlying disease in patients with spontaneous dissection of intracranial arteries.

Segmental mediolytic arteritis [correction of arteries]: a case report with review of the literature

Segmental mediolytic arteritis is a very rare vascular disease which causes sudden intraabdominal hemorrhage. The disease is characterized by degeneration of the arterial media, followed by aneurysmal dilatation and rupture of the involved artery. Up to now, only 13 cases have been reported, and this unique disease is not fully recognized among general pathologists and physicians. Here, we present a case of segmental mediolytic arteritis involving the propria hepatic artery, which resulted in intraabdominal hemorrhage, and consequently hypovolemic circulatory disturbance. Histologically, the rupture focus showed degeneration and desquamation of the intima and media with fibrin-like material covering the exposed adventitia. Inflammatory infiltrates were only noted in the rupture focus as a secondary reactive change. Other than the rupture focus, there were two foci showing similar findings. This disease has rarely been reported and is seldom recognized as a cause of arterial rupture. In cases of sudden intraabdominal hemorrhage, segmental mediolytic arteritis should be considered as a possible cause in addition to atherosclerotic and mycotic aneurysm, traumatic injury and vasculitis syndromes.

Ruptured inferior mesenteric artery aneurysm due to segmental mediolytic arteritis

Segmental mediolytic arteritis is a rare non-inflammatory arteriopathy. Only eight cases have been reported so far. The authors report a case of a ruptured inferior mesenteric artery aneurysm due to segmental mediolytic arteritis in which preoperative angiography revealed lesions and successful surgical treatment was performed. A review of the clinical features of segmental mediolytic arteritis is also presented.

Segmental mediolytic arteritis--electronmicroscopic and immunohistochemical study

We examined specimens of human gastroepiploic artery aneurysm from a patient having several visceral aneurysms using electronmicroscopic and immunohistochemical techniques. The histopathological and ultrastructural findings confirmed the diagnosis of segmental mediolytic arteritis. Arterial smooth muscle cells from the gastroepiploic artery contained cytoplasmic vacuoles, media was thin and the internal elastic membrane showed distortion. X-ray microanalysis revealed calcium deposits in the medial extracellular space. Antigenic determinants of human immunoglobulins, fibrinogen, complement C3a and factor VIII were demonstrated in the injured artery wall, suggesting that immunocomplexes deposited in the artery wall may be associated with local injury. These findings support the role of autoimmune disorders in the pathogenesis of segmental mediolytic arteritis.