Angiodysplasia in patients with renal insufficiency

Sixty-five patients with angiodysplasia were studied: 42 (64.6%) had normal renal function and 23 (35.4%) had renal insufficiency, defined as serum creatinine consistently greater than 1.5 mg/dl. Comparison of results in the two groups showed that there were no significant differences in the mode of presentation or anatomic distribution of angiodysplasia. Systemic hypertension, congestive cardiac failure, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus were significantly more common in patients with renal failure. Recurrent bleeding from upper alimentary angiodysplasias occurred significantly more often in patients with renal failure than in those with normal renal function. However, a second source, as a cause of bleeding, was found significantly more often in patients with normal renal function.