[Gastrointestinal bleeding revealing polycythemia. A case report].
OBJECTIVE
Gastrointestinal bleeding, an uncommon complication of polycythemia can be the inaugural sign in exceptional cases.


METHODS
A 35-year-old patient was hospitalized for upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Physical examination and laboratory tests led to the diagnosis of polycythemia (Vaquez disease). Gastroscopy showed an hemorrhagic bulber ulcer. Outcome was favorable after chemotherapy and antinuclear treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on this observation and data in the literature we propose that this unusual presentation would suggest a relationship between polycythemia and ulcer disease.
El Khattabi
Abdessadek
A
Service de Médecine Interne B , Hôpital Militaire d'Instruction Mohammed-V, CHU, BP 1018, Riad-Rabat, Maroc. elabdo2002@yahoo.fr
Tabache
Fatima
F
Baaj
Mohammed
M
Abouzahir
Ali
A
Ghafir
Driss
D
Ohayon
Victor
V
Archane
Moulay-Idriss
MI
D000328:Adult; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000175:diagnosis*