Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39991716›Full record

ArticleExperimental and therapeutic medicine2025

Indigo naturalis‑associated ischemic injury of colorectal mucosa: A case series study.

Yiheng Ke, Liang Xu, Qi Tang, Zheyu Ruan, Junjie Liu, Shuiliang Ruan

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yiheng KeJiaxing University Master Degree Cultivation Base, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China.
Liang XuJiaxing University Master Degree Cultivation Base, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China.
Qi TangJiaxing University Master Degree Cultivation Base, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China.
Zheyu RuanJiaxing University Master Degree Cultivation Base, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China.
Junjie LiuJiaxing University Master Degree Cultivation Base, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China.
Shuiliang RuanDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang 314000, P.R. China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Indigo naturalis, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine characterized by its dark blue hue, is utilized in the treatment of a diverse array of diseases, including ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, oral ulcers, radiation proctitis, chronic myelocytic leukemia and herpes zoster. The common adverse effects associated with indigo naturalis include liver dysfunction, headaches, abdominal pain and nausea. Notably, case reports have documented instances of ischemic injury to the colorectal mucosa attributed to indigo naturalis. The present case series study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of patients that experienced an ischemic injury of the colorectal mucosa due to consuming Chinese patent medicines containing indigo naturalis. The present study included 15 patients (mean age, 61.7±15.1 years; 5 male patients) that were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University (Jiaxing, China) between March 2013 and February 2016. The patients developed ischemic colonic mucosal injuries after consuming indigo naturalis through Chinese patent medicines, with an incidence rate of 1.3% (15/1,157 patients). Overall, 9/15 patients had idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and 6 patients had schistosomal liver fibrosis with hypersplenism but normal myeloproliferative thrombocytopenia. The duration of continuous treatment with indigo naturalis-containing Chinese patent medicines ranged from 12-330 days, with a mean of 98.0±52.3 days. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea and hematochezia, were observed 6-90 days after starting the indigo naturalis-containing Chinese patent medicines, with a mean onset of 28.9±22.2 days. Abdominal computed tomography scans and colonoscopy revealed lesions predominantly in the right hemi-colon and the entire colon, including the rectum. Gastrointestinal symptoms resolved 17.3±12.4 days after discontinuing the treatment with indigo naturalis-containing Chinese patent medicines, and patients had a favorable prognosis and did not experience a recurrence of ischemic colitis. Therefore, individuals taking indigo naturalis orally may be susceptible to developing ischemic injuries of the colorectal mucosa. In cases where colonoscopy indicates a suspected mucosal ischemic injury, it is suggested that endoscopists inquire about the medical history of the patient in order to establish a definitive diagnosis and adjust the dose of the indigo naturalis-containing drug to mitigate the adverse effects.

Indexed as

adverse effectscase series studycolorectal mucosaindigo naturalisischemic

Identifiers

PMID39991716
PMCPMC11843202

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