What Causes Intestinal Ischemia?

Vasculitis

When the blood vessels become inflamed, the condition is called vasculitis. This results in changes in the walls of the blood vessels such as narrowing, scarring, and thickening. Vasculitis can affect several organs or a single organ, as well as capillaries, arteries, and veins. This condition happens when the immune system within the body attacks healthy blood vessels, resulting in inflammation. The general narrowing and thickening of blood vessels can keep adequate amounts of oxygen-rich blood from reaching numerous tissues throughout the body. In addition, the thickening and narrowing of the arteries, veins, or capillaries that occurs with vasculitis will make the affected blood vessels significantly more vulnerable to blood clots. The mesenteric arteries are the main blood vessels that supply the intestines with oxygenated blood. When these vessels become affected by vasculitis, intestinal ischemia can occur. Treatment for intestinal ischemia caused by vasculitis will include the use of anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid medications, and chemotherapy. Suppressing the immune response causing vasculitis can help restore blood flow to the affected area of the intestine.

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Blood Clots

Blood clots are the clumps of blood the body forms in response to a cut or an injury to plug the injured blood vessel. In healthy individuals, clots are a natural mechanism that stops the body from losing too much blood. However, the process that causes the formation of clots can be impaired by several different diseases and conditions. This impairment can result in the formation of clots inside the blood vessels that do not naturally dissolve on their own. These blood clots can break free and flow throughout the bloodstream until they become lodged or stuck. Numerous dangerous conditions can occur when a blood clot becomes lodged in an artery. These adverse conditions depend on the location of where it is blocking normal blood flow. A blood clot can make its way into the mesenteric arteries or the arteries that supply the intestines with oxygenated blood and become lodged. This obstruction will stop the normal flow of blood to parts of the colon or small intestine. Intestinal ischemia caused by lodged blood clots will most often require surgery to restore adequate blood flow. In minor cases, medication may be used in an attempt to dissolve existing clots before implementing surgical interventions.

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