Asian Journal of Research and Reports in Gastroenterology

Nutcracker Syndrome in a Case of Ulcerative Colitis: A Rare Entity

R. Seydou *

Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, CHU Ibn Rochd of Casablanca, Morocco.

F. Z. EL-Rhaoussi

Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, CHU Ibn Rochd of Casablanca, Morocco.

M. Tahiri

Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, CHU Ibn Rochd of Casablanca, Morocco.

F. Haddad

Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, CHU Ibn Rochd of Casablanca, Morocco.

W. Hliwa

Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, CHU Ibn Rochd of Casablanca, Morocco.

A. Bellabah

Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, CHU Ibn Rochd of Casablanca, Morocco.

W. Badre

Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, CHU Ibn Rochd of Casablanca, Morocco.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

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Abstract

Nutcracker syndrome is a clinico-radiological entity that can be the cause of atypical pain. Long described by urologists and nephrologists, it encompasses all manifestations associated with venous stasis induced by stricture of the left renal vein: either between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, or between the aorta and the spine. The discovery of this syndrome during inflammatory bowel disease is an uncommon cause of abdominal pain.  We report a case of a 21-year-old female patient whose aetiological investigation of diarrhoea and abdominal pain revealed haemorrhagic rectocolitis and the discovery of nutcracker syndrome on radiological examination. This case highlights the importance of investigating other causes of abdominal pain in inflammatory bowel disease.

Keywords: Nutcracker syndrome, ulcerative colitis, abdominal scanner

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