Treatment of sclerosing mesenteritis with corticosteroids and azathioprine

Sclerosing (idiopathic) mesenteritis is a rare disease that may present wit h abdominal pain or bowel obstruction. A 21-year-old man was diagnosed with sclerosing mesenteritis, and treated with a partial ileal resection and de functioning ileostomy. He was subsequently started on corticosteroids and a zathioprine. Five months later, at the time of ileostomy reversal, he was d isease-free. The diagnosis and management of this disease are discussed.