Objective: To conclude clinical character and treatment strategy of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease with Crohn's disease.
Method: A female patient suffering lower extremity arterial occlusion and Crohn's disease was admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in 2007. The other 8 similar cases with clinical details were found through a comprehensive literature search from 1966 to 2007. Clinical characters of these 9 cases were concluded.
Results: All the cases were less than 50 years old and mostly female (8/9). Arterial occlusions occurred in either active (5/9) or inactive (4/9) stage of CD. Besides the arteries of lower extremities, other arteries could also be involved such as aorta, iliac artery, renal artery or mesentery artery. 7 cases had atherosclerotic arteriographic findings (4 had aortic artery plaques and 6 had iliac artery stenosis). Embolectomy or thromboendarterectomy were mostly performed. 4 cases (44.4%) had recurrent lower limb ischemia.
Conclusions: Arterial occlusive disease is a rare extraintestinal manifestation of CD. A thorough inspection of aorta is necessary. Embolectomy is mostly preferred. Anticoagulation treatment is highly recommended after the operation.