Published online Jun 14, 2021. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i22.3097
Peer-review started: February 17, 2021
First decision: March 28, 2021
Revised: March 30, 2021
Accepted: April 20, 2021
Article in press: April 20, 2021
Published online: June 14, 2021
Idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis (IMP) is a rare disease, and its etiology and risk factors remain uncertain.
In terms of IMP etiology, the association with a region-specific lifestyle has been a concern. IMP is believed to be linked to chronic and frequent ingestion of biochemicals and toxins.
The objective was to explore the possible relationship between Chinese herbal liquid containing geniposide and IMP and to identify some clinical factors that may lead to disease progression.
The disease computed tomography (CT) score was calculated from the distribution of mesenteric vein calcification and colon wall thickening on CT images. The drinking index of medicinal liquor was calculated from the daily intake and drinking years. The correlation between the drinking index and the disease CT score was analyzed by Spearman’s correlation analysis. Comparison of the herbal ingredients included in the liquid prescriptions, allowed identification of possibly toxic agents as a pathogenic factor.
Geniposide was the only Chinese medicine in common with previous studies. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that the median CT disease score was positively correlated with the median drinking index (r = 0.842, P < 0.05).
Geniposide is most likely involved in the pathology of IMP, and its effect is time- and dose-dependent. Chronic nephritis, malignant tumors, diabetes mellitus, and other clinical symptoms may be risk factors for IMP.
The number of cases in our retrospective study was relatively small, and the pathogenesis of IMP needs to be determined by further study with a larger data set.