MESENTERIC VEIN-THROMBOSIS - IS IT ONE DISEASE

Objectives: to compare the clinical course and outcome of mesenteric v ein thrombosis due to known causes and mesenteric vein thrombosis of u nknown netiology. Design: a retrospective study. Setting: two major ge neral hospitals in Kuwait. Subjects: 12 patients who had mesenteric ve in thrombosis due to known causes and seven patients who had mesenteri c vein thrombosis of unknown aetiology were treated over eight years. Chief outcome measures: severity of clinical findings and outcome. Res ults: There was no statistical difference between the two groups in th e clinical presentation or in outcome. Conclusion: 36% of mesenteric v ein thrombosis occurred without an obvious cause although the disease appeared to be the same. Move work on the netiology of this condition is required.