DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjams.2026.v14i05.025

Pages: 798-801

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic immune-mediated intestinal disorder associated with systemic inflammation and a clinically relevant risk of thromboembolic events. Although venous thromboembolism is increasingly recognized as an extra-intestinal complication of IBD, it remains insufficiently anticipated in daily practice, particularly during disease flares. Aim: This retrospective case series aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical profile of severe thromboembolic events among patients with IBD managed in a tertiary gastroenterology department. Methods: We reviewed electronic medical records of all patients aged 16 years or older followed for confirmed Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis at the Department of Gastroenterology I, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Rabat, between January 2024 and January 2025. Only imaging-confirmed venous or arterial thromboembolic events were included. Results: Among 125 patients with IBD, 4 developed thromboembolic events, corresponding to a prevalence of 3.2%. The mean age was 42 years (range: 27-63), and the series included three men and one woman. Two patients had Crohn’s disease and two had ulcerative colitis. All events occurred during active IBD. The main presentations were lower-limb pain, dyspnea with chest pain, and neurological symptoms. The events included lower-limb deep vein thrombosis in three patients, associated pulmonary embolism in one patient, and cerebral venous thrombosis in one patient. Systemic corticosteroid exposure was present in all cases, and smoking was noted in two patients. All patients received anticoagulant therapy. Conclusion: These findings support systematic thromboembolic risk assessment and early thromboprophylaxis during active IBD, especially in hospitalized or corticosteroid-treated patients.