Kalantzis N, Rouvella P, Tarazis S, Mourikis D, Kalantzis Chr, Kourkoutsakis N, Barbatzas Ch, Antoniou A G
Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology, Areteion Hospital, Athens University.
Hepatogastroenterology. 2002 Jan-Feb;49(43):168-71.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to correlate blood flow velocity in the superior mesenteric artery and activity of ulcerative colitis.
Doppler spectral analysis of superior mesenteric artery blood flow velocities were obtained in a blind study from 28 patients after fasting (A1: 13 patients with pancolitis, A2: 5 patients with subtotal colitis, B: 10 patients with left-sided colitis) and 50 healthy volunteers (control group). Disease activity was determined with clinical and endoscopic findings.
A significant increase in superior mesenteric artery blood flow measurements was observed in the active pancolitis group A1 [Vsyst = 3.64 +/- 0.18 m/sec and Vdiast = 0.94 +/- 0.09 m/sec as compared with healthy volunteers (Vsyst = 1.14 +/- 0.07 m/sec, Vdiast = 0.38 +/- 0.04 m/sec) P < 0.01. A minor increase in superior mesenteric artery blood flow velocity was observed in patients with subtotal colitis, group A2 (Vsyst = 2.06 +/- 0.14 m/sec, Vdiast = 0.45 +/- 0.05 m/sec) as compared with healthy volunteers P < 0.01. In group B with left sided colitis superior mesenteric artery velocity changes were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).
Doppler US velocity measurement of superior mesenteric artery may be used as an adjunct in the assessment of ulcerative colitis extension and activity.
