Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in acute mesenteric thrombosis

We report an unusual case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to superior mesenteric vein thrombosis and review the literature to assess the frequency of upper GI bleeding in patients with superior mesenteric vascular disease. Clinical features and laboratory and radiological findings are nonspecific; endoscopy and abdominal angiograms are helpful to rule out the common causes of GI bleeding and to suspect the diagnoses of superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. Without early surgical intervention, mortality is close to 100%.