Ischemic enteritis resulting from polycythemia vera

Polycythemia vera is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by clonal proliferation of bone marrow progenitors. We report a case of ischemic enteritis and bowel obstruction resulting from polycythemia vera. A 76-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with abdominal distention. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed portal vein thrombosis, superior mesenteric vein thrombosis, and dilated small intestinal loops with caliber changes at the end of the ileum. Laboratory data on admission revealed increased leukocyte, red blood cell, hemoglobin, and platelet levels. Polymerase chain reaction analysis for Janus kinase 2 V617F point mutation was positive. Intestinal obstruction due to either bowel adhesion or paralytic ileus secondary to the superior mesenteric artery and vein thrombosis caused by polycythemia vera was diagnosed. For decompression of the small intestinal obstruction, a transnasal ileus tube was placed. Despite conservative therapy, the small intestinal obstruction did not improve remarkably. Therefore, we decided to perform surgical treatment. Operative findings revealed extensive stricture in the ileum. Altogether, 30 cm of the ileum, including the known intestinal strictures, was resected. The pathological findings were consistent with ischemic enteritis. To the best of our knowledge, no case of ischemic enteritis caused by polycythemia vera has been previously reported in the literature.