Superior mesenteric vein thrombosis induced by influenza infection: A case report

Core Tip

Core Tip: Superior mesenteric vein (SMV) thrombosis, a potentially fatal type of mesenteric ischemia, usually occurs in individuals with predisposed factors that should be investigated upon diagnosis. Identification of a predisposed factor is crucial in SMV thrombosis because recurrence may be prevented by treatment of the underlying condition. Rarely, an influenza infection can complicate SMV thrombosis, and this report presents the third known case of this occurrence. The evidence presented in this report indicates that SMV thrombosis possibly induced by an influenza virus should be considered when an influenza patient presents with unexplained abdominal pain, or conversely, when an SMV thrombosis patient presents with a high fever of unknown cause. Moreover, the potential treatments for SMV thrombosis including medical interventions, transvenous catheter-based interventions, or surgery may differ according to the degree of vascular involvement and symptoms. These differences are highlighted in this report when the current case is compared to the two previously reported cases.