Angiodysplasia history and symptoms

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.

• 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.

• Hematochezia
• Melena
• Hematemesis (upper GI angiodysplasia)
• Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia like fatigue, irritability, weakness etc.
• Massive gastrointestinal bleeding (infrequent)

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