[Ischaemic colitis after loperamide treatment].

Ischaemic colitis is a potentially mortal illness which usually arises from decreased mesenteric blood flow. Loperamide is used in the treatment of both acute and chronic diarrhoea. We present a case of a 62-year-old man with no history of abdominal illness who was admitted with a distended and sore abdomen. Ten days prior to admission he was treated with loperamide. Because of his severe condition he had an emergency laparotomy which showed a necrotic colon and terminal ileum - both were resected. No thromboembolic cause was found and we therefore suggest loperamide as an inducing factor.