Gastric antral vascular ectasia

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD's medical weight loss NYC, sleep center NYC
Philadelphia medical weight loss and Philadelphia sleep clinics

Gastric antral vascular ectasia
File:Gastric antral vascular ectasia (before and after).png
Synonyms	GAVE, watermelon stomach
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Anemia, gastrointestinal bleeding
Complications	Iron deficiency anemia, upper gastrointestinal bleeding
Onset	Typically in older adults
Duration	Chronic
Types	N/A
Causes	Unknown, associated with cirrhosis, scleroderma
Risks	Cirrhosis, autoimmune disorders
Diagnosis	Endoscopy, biopsy
Differential diagnosis	Portal hypertensive gastropathy, gastritis
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Endoscopic therapy, argon plasma coagulation, surgery
Medication	Proton pump inhibitors, iron supplements
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

File:Cirrhosis high mag.jpg

Cirrhosis under high magnification

File:Gastric antral vascular ectasia - 2 - high mag.jpg

Gastric antral vascular ectasia - high magnification

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a medical condition where an area of the stomach known as the antrum develops small vascular ectasias. These ectasias become inflamed and bleed, leading to chronic, often severe, gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia. The condition is also known as watermelon stomach due to the characteristic streaky appearance of the ectasias.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of GAVE is anemia due to chronic gastrointestinal bleeding. Other symptoms may include fatigue, shortness of breath, and light-headedness. In severe cases, patients may present with melena (black, tarry stools) or hematemesis (vomiting blood).

Causes

The exact cause of GAVE is unknown. However, it is often associated with other medical conditions such as cirrhosis, autoimmune diseases, and chronic renal failure. It is also more common in older women.

Diagnosis

GAVE is typically diagnosed through endoscopy, where a long, flexible tube with a camera is used to visualize the stomach. The characteristic appearance of the vascular ectasias, often described as a "watermelon stripe" pattern, can usually confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment for GAVE is aimed at stopping the bleeding and managing the anemia. This may involve endoscopic treatments such as argon plasma coagulation or laser therapy. In severe cases, surgical intervention may be required.

See also

• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Anemia
• Endoscopy

References

<references />

This article is a medical stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia