Cerebral vascular events associated with ulcerative colitis in children

Although peripheral vascular thrombic events are recognized as a serious ex tra-intestinal complication of inflammatory bowel disease, the occurrence o f cerebral vascular events in association with acute exacerbations of this group of diseases is rare. In this article, relevant literature is reviewed and three children,,5, 12, and 13 years of age, who presented with clinica l and magnetic resonance imaging evidence of an acute cerebrovascular event in association with an acute exacerbation of their inflammatory bowel dise ase are described. Except for the presence of anemia, hematologic and coagu lation studies were unremarkable, and a search for evidence of a systemic v asculitis proved negative. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights res erved.