Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Internal Medicine
• Hematology

Background:

• Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is prevalent in the elderly, often linked to gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.
• Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE), or watermelon stomach, is an uncommon but significant cause of GI blood loss in older adults.
• GAVE syndrome is characterized by a distinctive endoscopic appearance of
• watermelon stripes.

Observation:

• This condition disproportionately affects females and typically presents as IDA due to chronic blood loss.
• The exact pathogenesis of GAVE remains unclear, although various humoral factors have been implicated.
• Diagnosis relies on clinical presentation, endoscopic findings, and histological examination.

Findings:

• A case study details an elderly patient presenting with hematemesis and IDA.
• The patient was diagnosed with GAVE syndrome based on clinical and endoscopic evaluation.
• Successful treatment was achieved using endoscopic band ligation.

Implications:

• Endoscopic band ligation is a viable and effective treatment option for GAVE syndrome.
• Recognizing GAVE syndrome is crucial for managing IDA in elderly patients with GI bleeding.
• Further research into GAVE pathogenesis may reveal novel therapeutic targets.