A Case of Ischemic Colitis Associated with the Herbal Food Supplement Ma Huang.
10.3349/ymj.2008.49.3.496
- Author:
Hyun Joo SONG
1
;
Ki Nam SHIM
;
Kum Hei RYU
;
Tae Hun KIM
;
Sung Ae JUNG
;
Kwon YOO
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. shimkn@ewha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Ischemic colitis;
ephedra sinica;
ma huang
- MeSH:
Abdominal Pain/etiology;
Adult;
Colitis, Ischemic/*diagnosis/etiology;
Diarrhea/etiology;
*Dietary Supplements;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage/adverse effects;
Ephedra sinica/*chemistry;
Humans;
Male
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2008;49(3):496-499
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Ischemic colitis is a condition that usually occurs in the elderly, as a form of vascular disease. However, ischemic colitis also occurs, though rarely, in healthy young adults. Moreover, food supplements containing Ephedra sinica or ma huang have been linked to adverse central nervous and cardiovascular events. A 40-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department after 2 episodes of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea that lasted 24 hours. His medical history was unremarkable for risk factors of bowel ischemia, except for well-controlled hypertension. However, a weight-loss supplement, Ephedra sinica, had been prescribed for daily use during the previous month. Both abdominal/pelvic computed tomography and colonoscopy revealed findings compatible with ischemic colitis. His conditions spontaneously improved without any serious complications, and he was advised to discontinue the use of herbal medications containing ephedrine. In this paper, we describe a case of ischemic colitis that was potentially linked to the use of ma huang with a review of the relevant literature.
