A case of non-specific multiple ulcers of the small intestine -Review of the Japanese Literature-

Non-specific multiple ulcers of the small intestine is one of the new disease entities, differing from Crohn's disease and simple ulcers of the small intestine. The clinical course of this disease ia still poorly understood, and the factors which inflence the progression or healing of these lesions remain unknown. We reviewed 95 cases of non-specific multiple ulcers of the small intestine in the Japanese literature. Non-specific multiple ulcers were seen primarily in young adults, although our patient was a 73 year-old female. The main symptoms of this disease included occult blood in the stool, anemia, hypoproteinemia, abdominal pain and ileus. Our case was accompanied by ileus at the onset without anemia and hypoproteinemia. Almost all of the patients have a clinical course of long duration. Macroscopic examinations in this disease are characterized by multipe shallow ulcers (UL-I-II) developing crosswise or obliquely on the intestinal mucosa and several areas of stenosis. No cases of perforation, fisula fornation, obstruction or abscess were noted. The recurrence rate was 26.3%.