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Less frequent causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding
L S Miller1, C Barbarevech, L S Friedman
1Department of Gastroenterology, Temple University Health Sciences Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Gastroenterology Clinics of North America
|March 1, 1994
Summary
This article reviews less common causes of lower intestinal bleeding, beyond the typical arteriovenous malformations, diverticulosis, neoplasms, and hemorrhoids. It details various infrequent gastrointestinal bleeding sources, including rare and recently identified conditions.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Four conditions—arteriovenous malformation, diverticulosis, neoplasms, and internal hemorrhoids—are the most frequent causes of lower intestinal bleeding in the United States.
- Many other less common conditions can also lead to gastrointestinal bleeding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss less frequent causes of lower intestinal bleeding.
- To highlight recently described causes of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of less common gastrointestinal bleeding causes.
- Categorization of infrequent causes into "common" less frequent and recently described.
Main Results:
- "Common" less frequent causes include solitary rectal ulcer syndrome, colonic varices, mesenteric vascular insufficiency, small bowel diverticula, Meckel's diverticulum, aortoenteric fistula, vasculitis, small intestinal ulceration, endometriosis, radiation-induced injury, and intussusception.
- Recently described causes include portal colopathy, diversion colitis, and gastrointestinal bleeding in runners.
Conclusions:
- While four conditions dominate lower intestinal bleeding cases, a broader spectrum of less frequent causes exists.
- Awareness of these less common etiologies is crucial for comprehensive diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal bleeding.