ARTERIAL THROMBOSIS IN ULCERATIVE-COLITIS - TRANSCATHETER THROMBOLYTIC THERAPY

THROMBOEMBOLISM has been recognized as a rare but serious complication of inflammatory bowel disease since six cases were first described in 1936.(1) Case studies and reviews since then have emphasized the poor prognosis associated with thrombosis. Two thirds of cases have been d ue to deep venous thrombi or pulmonary embolic events.' Some reports h ave discussed the diagnosis and treatment of venous thrombosis, but ef fective management of extensive arterial thrombosis associated with in flammatory bowel disease has not been previously described. We report the occurrence of bilateral lower extremity arterial thrombosis in a p atient recently diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. Circulation was restored with the transcatheter intrathrombic administration of u rokinase (Abbokinase; Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois).