Mesenteric arteritis in systemic lupus erythematosus

Mesenteric arteriography was performed in a patient who had systemic lupus erythematosus with active intestinal bleeding. The arteriogram demonstrated not only the site of the bleeding, but also diffuse irregularities of the small intestinal arteries. This diffuse irregularity of small vessels correlates well with the pathologic description of diffuse mesenteric arteritis characteristically occurring in this disease entity. Mesenteric arteriography is suggested as the initial diagnostic procedure in patients with collagen disease and who exhibit active, lower-intestinal bleeding.