Unfractionated or low-molecular weight heparin for induction of remission in ulcerative colitis

Central venous sinus thrombosis in a young girl with ulcerative colitis

Paediatric central venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is an uncommon but important life-threatening complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As the incidence of IBD has increased in the last four decades, paediatricians need to be aware of this complication. There is currently no consensus on when children with IBD should receive prophylactic anticoagulation. We present the case of a young girl with ulcerative colitis who suffered an acute ischaemic event secondary to a CVST during an acute flare of her disease. We aim to bring awareness to CVST in IBD due to its high risk of morbidity and mortality.

Thrombotic mechanism and anticoagulant therapy in inflammatory bowel disease patients

Thromboembolism (TE) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an increasingly noted extra-intestinal manifestation with high morbidity (about 1%-8%), and the incidence rate can reach 41% by mucosal biopsy. Although TE is a life-threatening complication of IBD, this complication is often overlooked. To date, the mechanism behind this prothrombotic state encountered in IBD patients is not fully understood, and it is multifactorial and related to the inflammatory state. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of thrombotic mechanism and anticoagulant therapy in IBD. While controlling the activity of the disease with appropriate therapy, thromboembolism prophylaxis should be considered.