Octreotide in the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by angiodysplasia in two patients with von Willebrand's disease.
Two cases of von Willebrand's disease and angiodysplasia with intractable gastrointestinal bleeding are presented. Replacement therapy with cryoprecipitate and variable purity von Willebrand factor (VWF) was ineffective, as were other treatments including steroids, immunoglobulin and hormonal replacement. Both patients required massive blood transfusion and product support. The efficacy of somatostatin and an analogue is described. In one patient, we observed a rise in von Willebrand factor activity after octreotide infusion.
Bowers
M
M
Northern Ireland Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK. magbag3@hotmail.com
McNulty
O
O
Mayne
E
E
D000368:Aged; D016888:Angiodysplasia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
D006490:Hemostatics; D015282:Octreotide