Open AccessEpigastric Pain and Weight Loss – A Case of Wilkie’s Syndrome
Author(s) -
Ana Lima Silva,
Daniela Antunes,
Joana Cordeiro e Cunha,
Renato Luiz Maia Nogueira,
Diana Fernandes,
Tatiana Salazar,
Carla Madureira Pinto
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of case reports in internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.125
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 2284-2594
DOI - 10.12890/2020_001557
Subject(s) - superior mesenteric artery syndrome , medicine , epigastric pain , nausea , weight loss , superior mesenteric artery , etiology , abdominal pain , sma* , surgery , duodenum , differential diagnosis , bowel obstruction , vomiting , obesity , pathology , mathematics , combinatorics
Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMA syndrome) or Wilkie’s syndrome is a rare etiology of duodenal obstruction due to compression of the third portion of the duodenum between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta. Physical and laboratory findings are often non-specific but imaging methods are useful for diagnosing the condition. A 46-year-old female patient presented to the outpatient clinic of our internal medicine department with a 2-year history of epigastric pain, nausea, early satiety and weight loss of 15 kg. Previous studies were inconclusive. The patient underwent computed tomography enterography and its findings were consistent with SMA syndrome. Currently the patient is being followed by General Surgery and Nutrition and is under nutritional measures in order to optimize her body mass index to decrease possible surgical complications.This case report emphasizes the importance of clinical suspicion and careful investigation when considering less common etiologies for frequent gastrointestinal symptoms.