Spontaneous ischemic colitis.

Eighteen cases of spontaneous ischemic colitis are reviewed. The diagnosis was established according to the following criteria: 1) clinical background, 2) clinical characteristics, 3) morphologic characteristics, and 4) clinical and morphologic course. The last three constituted the diagnostic criteria. The cases were divided into mild-to-moderate, moderate-to-severe, and gangrenous categories. Although data on clinical background did not establish the diagnosis of spontaneous ischemic colitis, they were essential in strict diagnosis. Patients who had histories of Crohn's disease, chronic ulcerative colitis, and recent antibiotic administration were excluded from consideration. Appropriate stool examinations obtained in all of the mild-to-moderate and all except two of the moderate-to-severe cases excluded colitis due to pathogenic bacterial organisms or parasites. Spontaneous ischemic colitis generally occurs in older individuals; the average age in our patients was 60 years. Twelve of the 18 patients had at least some evidence of major cardiovascular disease.