Compared with all other patterns, isolated right colon ischemia has been found to be more associated with coronary artery disease and a poor prognosis. However, there has been no research on comparing isolated left side ischemic colitis (ILIC) and non-ILIC with vascular assessment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and laboratory findings between these two different forms of ischemic colitis (IC).

We retrospectively investigated differences in clinical features, course, and mesenteric vascular (superior mesenteric artery, SMA; inferior mesenteric artery, IMA) findings between ILIC and non-ILIC patients who were hospitalized at Kosin University Gospel Hospital from 2004 to 2010.

Our study population comprised 221 patients, all of whom met our entry criteria of biopsy-proven or -compatible IC. Of the 221 patients, 46 (20.8%) had non-ILIC. Congestive heart failure and hypercholesterolemia were more frequently observed in the non-ILIC group (P = 0.003 and P = 0.020, respectively). SMA atherosclerosis and SMA stenosis were more frequently observed in the non-ILIC group (P = 0.006 and P = 0.001, respectively). Recovery periods were longer in the non-ILIC group (P = 0.039), and mortality was lower in the ILIC group (6.9% vs. 17.3%, P = 0.026).

ILIC has favorable outcomes compared with non-ILIC. Furthermore, non-ILIC showed a close relationship with SMA atherosclerosis and SMA stenosis, which should be investigated carefully in the clinical field.