[Causes of gastrointestinal hemorrhages in chronic liver diseases]

356 patients with chronic liver diseases hospitalized in our clinic during the period from January 1, 1981, to December 12, 1983, were enrolled in a retrospective study. Of them 55 had been admitted for acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage. It appears that gastroscopy is the only method allowing to localize the origin of the bleeding with high certainty. Bleedings from varices (45%) and ulcers or erosions (22%) were seen most frequently. With regard to case history, clinic, paraclinic and prognosis, no significant differences were found between these various origins of the hemorrhages. Also it is remarkable that all bleedings occur with higher frequency in portal hypertension.