Organic Or Psychiatric Disease? A Misdiagnosed Rare Disease

Abstract

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (1-4) is a rare disorder characterised by a compression of the duodenum because of the reduced angle between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery. The disease is clinically characterised by abdominal pain, lack of appetite, vomiting and anorexia; some of these symptoms also characterise eating disorders. We report a case of a young female patient presenting with abdominal pain, loss of appetite and chronic loss of weight which led to misdiagnosis of anorexia nervosa; ultrasound with echo color Doppler methodology has subsequently allowed the correct diagnosis.

Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome: Could it Involve a Potential Familial Pattern?

“…Her family medical history included her mother receiving a similar diagnosis at age 40, which raised the suspicion for a genetic predisposition to SMA syndrome. SMA syndrome is currently not considered to be an inherited condition [ 7 ]. However, the condition has been observed in twin studies, indicating the possibility of a familial inheritance pattern in SMA syndrome [ 8 ].…”