Colonoscopic Resolution of Melanosis Coli After Cessation of Senna Laxative Use

Toshimi Chiba,1,* Ting Wang,1,* Satoshi Kikuchi2,* 1Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Oral Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan; 2Department of Gastroenterology, Sanai Hospital, Morioka, Iwate, Japan*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Toshimi Chiba, Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Oral Medicine, Iwate Medical University, 19-1 Uchimaru, Morioka, Iwate, 020-8505, Japan, Tel +81 19 651 5111, Fax +81 19 654 3281, Email [email protected]: Melanosis coli occurs with the administration of stimulant laxatives for the relief of constipation. However, the duration of macroscopic improvement of melanosis coli after discontinuation of anthracene laxatives is not well understood. We describe the case of an 81-year-old female diagnosed with melanosis coli via colonoscopy who had been taking senna laxatives for 5 years. Seven months after cessation of senna laxatives, colonoscopy showed no melanosis coli in the colon. This impressive report describes the observation of melanosis coli with colonoscopy; 7 months after the withdrawal of senna stimulant laxatives, melanosis coli resolved.Keywords: melanosis coli, colonoscopy, discontinued, senna laxative, anthraquinone