A case of asymptomatic idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis associated with long-term administration of Kamishoyosan that initially manifested as a positive fecal test for occult blood

Abstract

A 77-year-old woman was admitted because of a positive fecal test for occult blood. She had taken oral Kamishoyosan continuously for 25 years. Colonoscopy revealed dark purplish-blue mucosa from the ileocecum to the ascending colon. Histopathology revealed a thickened wall of the colon, with linear calcification of the mesenteric vein. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed as having idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis. A repeat colonoscopy performed 13 months after the patient discontinued Kamishoyosan showed improvement of the color and vascularity of the colonic mucosa. Thus, it appears that the colonoscopic findings of asymptomatic idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis associated with the long-term use of Kamishoyosan could improve by about a year or so after discontinuation of Kamishoyosan.