Sclerosing mesenteritis: a case report
Background. Sclerosing mesenteritis (SM) is a rare pathology characterized by chronic, nonspecific inflammation of the fatty tissue of the intestinal mesentery. The exact causes are unknown, however abdominal traumas, surgeries, autoimmune disease, tumors may contribute to the development of sclerosing mesenteritis. The main symptom reported by patients is abdominal pain. The gold standard for diagnosing SM is computed tomography (CT). Upon diagnosis, treatment with glucocorticoids combined with other immunosuppressants is prescribed. Case report. In this case report we analyzed a 46-year-old patient who had been complaining of spasmodic abdominal pain for two years. Additionally, an increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels was observed alongside the pain. It was decided to perform imaging studies to determine the cause of the abdominal pain. After performing esopgagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and a colonoscopy, no pathology was observed. Antibiotic therapy was started, however, with no improvement in the condition, abdominal CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. After imaging studies, inflammation and edema of the small and large intestines were observed, leading to a diagnosis of sclerosing mesenteritis. The patient was prescribed methylprednisolone. During treatment, the clinical condition improved, and abdominal pain disappeared. Conclusion. Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare pathology that causes chronic abdominal pain. There are many factors that can contribute to this condition. It is important, after conducting the appropriate tests, to identify changes characteristic of sclerosing mesenteritis, determine the factors that contributed to its development, and prescribe treatment.