Abstract
We reported two cases of ischemic colitis in young adult males in whom constipation and stress were thought to contribute to the onset of the ailment. The first case was a 33 year-old male, whose chronic constipation conbined with stress from work at home as a machinery designer induced symptoms. Endoscopic examination revealed prominent mucosal edema, and diffuse hemorrhage approximately 30 cm in length in the descending colon. Barium enema examination showed lack of distension of the bowel, irregular contour and thumb-printing in the same area. The second case was a 23-year-old male who had also chronic constipation. When he got stress in his job as a car salesman, he began to experience rectal bleeding and lower abdominal pain. Endoscopic examination and barium enema study revealed circumferential reddening, erosions and lack of distention 5 cm in length in the sigmoid colon. In both cases, the disorder was alleviated in a few days with conservative therapy, and no stenosis was left. Cases in ischemic colitis in young adult males with no underlying disturbance are rare and only five cases were recorted in Japan. In our cases, it is possible to infer that poor blood circulation due to constipation and stress was the cause of the trouble.
