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Review
. 2024 Feb 16;16(4):541.
doi: 10.3390/nu16040541.

Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in Anorexia Nervosa: A Case Report and a Systematic Revision of the Literature

Elena Bozzola  1 , Mariangela Irrera  1 , Flavia Cirillo  1 , Valeria Zanna  2 , Italo Petrelli  2 , Antonella Diamanti  3 , Ylenia Scire  1 , Jibin Park  4 , Alessandra Marchesi  1 , Maria Rosaria Marchili  1 , Alberto Villani  1
Affiliations
Review

Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in Anorexia Nervosa: A Case Report and a Systematic Revision of the Literature

Elena Bozzola et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is a rare condition caused by the compression of the duodenum, which may occur in the case of fast weight loss. Currently, the relationship between superior mesenteric artery syndrome and anorexia nervosa is still unclear. The aim of this study is to identify the precocious clinical signs and symptoms of SMAS in patients affected by anorexia nervosa so as not to delay the diagnosis.

Methods: We present the clinical case of a young female patient with anorexia nervosa complicated by SMAS. We performed a literature review of SMAS in children affected by anorexia nervosa between 1962 and 2023, according to the PRISMA Extension Guide for Scoping Reviews.

Results: Reviewing the literature, 11 clinical cases were described for the pediatric age. The median age at diagnosis was 17 years (ranging from 13 to 18 years). The diagnosis of SMAS may be challenging as symptoms overlap those of anorexia, but it should be kept in mind mostly in cases of post-prandial abdominal pain, anxiety or depression, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss.

Conclusion: Even specific clinical symptoms may act as flag tags to drive attention to this rare but potentially fatal condition.

Keywords: anorexia; children; complication; diagnosis; superior mesenteric artery; superior mesenteric artery syndrome.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Abdominal ultrasound.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Barium X-ray study.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Flow chart of the selected process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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