[Angiodysplasias in the digestive tract and associated cardiovascular diseases]

To clarify the possible relationship between angiodysplasia of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular disease, we performed a retrospective study of 58 consecutive patients. In all patients angiodysplasias were identified endoscopically. The median age was 72 years. Fifty-seven per cent of the patients had some clinically obvious cardiovascular disorder. Mitral valve insufficiency was found more often (21%) than aortic valve stenosis (10%). A high incidence of coronary artery disease (45%) and peripheral artery disease (10%) was noted. These findings do not support the concept that angiodysplasia occurs principally in combination with aortic stenosis. The aetiology of these vascular lesions is presumably multifactorial. The vast majority of the lesions seems to be acquired and at least a subgroup is probably an expression of degenerative processes of aging.