Ischemic colitis in a 33-year-old woman on danazol treatment for endometriosis.

Abstract

A 33-yr-old Japanese woman, married, no parity, was treated for endometriosis. Danazol 400 mg a day was initiated on September 25, 1986, for 21 consecutive days. She became severely constipated and had left lower abdominal colic pain. Five days later, she had to be admitted to the hospital, because she had had no bowel movements for 12 days and the abdominal pain was severe. On the day after admission, she had frequent painful bowel movements. The stool was blood-tinged, but pathogenic bacteria were nil. Ischemic colitis of the stricture type was identified. She was treated with hyperalimentation and anticholinergic agents. At 3 months and 5 days after discharge from hospital, danazol 400 mg per day was readministered, and 11 days later, the patient again became constipated and complained of the same pain in the left flank. We consider that danazol-induced constipation played a role in the onset of the ischemic colitis.