$Unique_ID{BRK03999}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Mesenteritis, Retractile}
$Subject{Mesenteritis, Retractile Mesenteric Panniculitis Sclerosing
Panniculitis Non-specific Sclerosing Mesenteritis Nodular Mesenteritis
Weber-Christian Disease }
$Volume{}
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Copyright (C) 1988, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

459:
Mesenteritis, Retractile

** IMPORTANT **
It is possible the main title of the article (Retractile Mesenteritis) is
not the name you expected.  Please check the SYNONYMS listing on the next
page to find alternate names, disorder subdivisions, and related disorders
covered by this article.

Synonyms

     Mesenteric Panniculitis
     Sclerosing Panniculitis
     Non-specific Sclerosing Mesenteritis
     Nodular Mesenteritis

Information on the following disease can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:

     Weber-Christian Disease

General Discussion

** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only.  It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes.  If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.

Retractile Mesenteritis, also known as Mesenteric Panniculitis, is a
disorder that affects the digestive tract membranes.  It is characterized by
infection, inflammation and intestinal obstructions.  Major symptoms include
abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and fever.

Symptoms

Initial symptoms of Retractile Mesenteritis include a general feeling of ill
health, fever, weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
The mesentery is a double fold of thin membrane (peritoneum) surrounding part
of the intestines and other abdominal organs.  This double layered membrane
connects the intestines with the posterior wall of the abdominal cavity.
Retractile Mesenteritis occurs if this connecting membrane becomes thickened,
infiltrated with abnormal cells, fibers, or calcium infiltrated tissue
(calcifications).  Intestines may become obstructed, abnormally separated,
kinked, or grown together.

In late stages, patients may have small bowel obstruction and intestinal
lymphatic obstruction, producing protein-losing disease of the intestinal
tract (enteropathy), excess fat in the stools (steatorrhea), and accumulation
of fluid in spaces between tissues and organs in the abdominal cavity
(ascites).  Since nutrients are not properly absorbed by the body, rapid
weight loss can occur if the condition is not properly treated.

Causes

The exact cause of Retractile Mesenteritis is not known.    The changes in
the abdominal cavity membrane (mesentery) may be caused by infection, or
obstructed blood flow into the membrane due to narrowing of arteries by
spasms or other diseases.

Affected Population

Retractile Mesenteritis tends to affect elderly persons, and occurs in males
more often than females.

Related Disorders

Symptoms of the following disorder can be similar to those of Retractile
Mesenteritis.  Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:

Weber-Christian Disease is characterized by fever and the formation of
crops of nodules in fatty tissue under the skin (subcutaneous tissue).  The
abnormal nodules may be similar to changes found in abdominal cavity membrane
(mesentery) in patients affected by Retractile Mesenteritis.  Retractile
Mesenteritis is also called "Mesenteric Weber-Christian Disease".  However,
Weber-Christian usually affects adult women between the ages of twenty and
forty years.  (For more information on this disorder, choose "Weber-Christian"
as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).

Therapies:  Standard

Treatment of infection or inflammation in patients with Retractile
Mesenteritis usually consists of the steroid drug prednisone and the
immunosuppressant drug azathioprine.  Surgery may be necessary if an
intestinal blockage does not respond to drug treatment.  Other treatment is
symptomatic and supportive.

Therapies:  Investigational

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
December 1988.  Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to
keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and
accurate.  Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for
the most current information about this disorder.

Resources

For more information on Retractile Mesenteritis, please contact

     National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
     P.O. Box 8923
     New Fairfield, CT  06812-1783
     (203) 746-6518

     National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
     Box NDIC
     Bethesda, MD  20892
     (301) 468-2162

References

SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF A PATIENT WITH RETRACTILE MESENTERITIS WITH
PREDNISONE AND AZATHIOPRINE:  G.N. Tytgat, et al.; Gastroenterology (August
1980, issue 79(2)).  Pp. 352-356.

SCLEROSING MESENTERITIS.  RESPONSE TO CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE:  R.W. Bush, et
al.; Arch Intern Med (March 1986, issue 146(3)).  Pp. 503-505.

RETRACTILE MESENTERITIS INVOLVING THE COLON:  BARIUM ENEMA, SONOGRAPHIC,
AND CT FINDINGS:  F.J. Perez-Fontan, et al.; AJR (November 1986, issue 147
(5)).  Pp. 937-940.