Abstract: Objective To retrospectively analyze the relationship between the atherosclerosis plaques in abdominal aorta and superial mesenterial artery (SMA) and the development of ischemia bowel disease (IBD) in elderly patients. Methods Elderly patients diagnosed as IBD (n=20) and non-IBD elderly patients with coronary heart disease (n=20) were selected in our hospital from January 2010 to December 2015. Data of CT imaging of abdominal aorta and SMA were evaluated by Syngo.Via software in two groups. Results The calcified plaques were dominated by dots in control group, while they were the annular lesions in IBD group, according to the CT imaging data. The mean sum of calcification in SMA was significantly increased in IBD group than that in control group (χ2=5.010，P=0.025). The stenosis of SMA was more significant in IBD group compared to that of control group (Z=3.370，P=0.001). The degree of SMA lesion was positively correlated with its opening stenosis in the IBD group (rs=0.650，P=0.002). Conclusion The basic vascular lesion is dot calcification in elderly patients with coronary heart disease, and the opening stenosis in SMA induced by mass calcification is the main cause of atherosclerosis-induced ischemic intestinal disease in elderly people.

Key words: abdominal aortic calcification, ischemia bowel disease, superior mesenteric arterial calcification, CT imaging