
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Angiodysplasia history and symptoms
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The majority of the patients with angiodysplasia are asymptomatic, with fewer than 10% of patients presenting with active gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients with upper gastrointestinal tract angiodysplasia often present with hematemesis, whereas colonic angiodysplasia presents with chronic, low-grade bleeding. In addition, colonic angiodysplasia patients may present with hematochezia, melena, occult blood in stool, iron deficiency anemia, and occasionally with acute, massive gastrointestinal bleeding.
History
History
- Majority of the patients with angiodysplasia are asymptomatic, with fewer than 10% present with active gastrointestinal bleeding.
- The gastrointestinal bleeding in angiodysplasia is venous in nature, therefore, slow and painless but recurrent.[1]
- Bleeding is usually chronic or recurrent and, in most cases, low grade and painless because of the venous source.[2]
- Patients with upper gastrointestinal tract angiodysplasia often present with hematemesis whereas, colonic angiodysplasia presents with chronic, low grade bleeding. Colonic angiodysplasia patients may present with hematochezia, melena, occult blood in stool, iron deficiency anemia, and occasionally with acute, massive gastrointestinal bleeding.
Symptoms
Symptoms
- Hematochezia
- Melena
- Hematemesis (upper GI angiodysplasia)
- Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia like fatigue, irritability, weakness etc.
- Massive gastrointestinal bleeding (infrequent)
References
References
- ↑ Richter JM, Hedberg SE, Athanasoulis CA, Schapiro RH (1984). “Angiodysplasia. Clinical presentation and colonoscopic diagnosis”. Dig Dis Sci. 29 (6): 481–5. doi:10.1007/BF01296266. PMID 6609803.
- ↑ Sami SS, Al-Araji SA, Ragunath K (2014). “Review article: gastrointestinal angiodysplasia – pathogenesis, diagnosis and management”. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 39 (1): 15–34. doi:10.1111/apt.12527. PMID 24138285.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Nikita Singh, M.B.B.S.[2]
