Mesenteric Artery Disease

Mesenteric artery disease is also sometimes known as chronic mesenteric insufficiency, and is a disorder in which the arteries that supply blood to the intestines are hardened. The disease can be either acute, meaning it’s typically caused by a clot and can be immediately life-threatening, or chronic, meaning it develops over time and isn’t caused by any one event.

The primary symptom of acute mesenteric artery disease is severe pain in the abdomen. Because the acute form of this disease can come on suddenly and be so dangerous, it’s important to seek treatment immediately.

In chronic mesenteric artery disease, patients may report pain while eating, which can lead to avoiding eating entirely, and associated weight loss. Mesenteric artery disease may also result in vomiting, bloody stool, a drop in blood pressure and other symptoms.