Authors' recommendations: Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a relatively rare condition affecting the stomach that is associated with chronic, recurrent upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding; it accounts for up to 4% of all nonvariceal upper GI bleeds. While GAVE occurs most frequently in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, it is also found in patients with other disorders. GAVE affects the gastric antrum and is characterized by a typical endoscopic pattern showing red stripes (striped GAVE or watermelon stomach), or scattered spots (diffuse GAVE or honeycomb stomach). Clinically, patients with this disorder often present with chronic anemia and occult blood loss while others show signs of acute bleeding such as hematemesis or melena or are asymptomatic. GAVEassociated bleeding leads to significant morbidity and transfusion dependence in some patients. Treatment for the disease ranges from supportive medical therapy, to endoscopy to antrectomy (surgical removal of the stomach). Endoscopic treatments include sclerotherapy and band ligation, as well as ablation by direct contact (bipolar electrocautery, thermal coagulation with a heater probe or cryotherapy), and ablation by noncontact techniques including laser photocoagulation and argon plasma coagulation (APC).

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2012

URL for published report: The report may be purchased from:http://www.hayesinc.com/hayes/crd/?crd=13983

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: HAYES, Inc.

Contact Address: 157 S. Broad Street, Suite 200, Lansdale, PA 19446, USA. Tel: 215 855 0615; Fax: 215 855 5218

Contact Name: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Contact Email: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Copyright: 2012 Winifred S. Hayes, Inc