Rate and predictive factors of rebleeding with obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding.
OBJECTIVE
Little information is available on the rate and predictive factors of rebleeding of unknown cause, which is very important in deciding further investigations on obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rebleeding rate and related factors in obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding patients who revealed normal gastroscopic and colonoscopic findings.


METHODS
A total of 69 patients with negative first-line gastroscopy and colonoscopy were enrolled in this study as obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding cases. The relationships between rebleeding and clinical characteristics were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
The causes of obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding were confirmed in 30 cases among the 69 cases. Small bowel tumors (14 cases) were the most common cause, followed by vascular lesions (6 cases). The mean follow-up period was 28 months and rebleeding was noticed in 19 patients (27.5%). Among these rebleeding patients, 14 cases (73.7%) occurred within 6 months. The past experience of previous bleeding was significantly related with rebleeding (p=0.0009).


CONCLUSIONS
Close observation and detailed investigations are needed for obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding patients with bleeding history, especially during 6 months follow-up.
Kim
Jong Hyung
JH
Department of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. bowelkim@smc.samsung.co.kr
Kim
Young Ho
YH
Lee
Sun Young
SY
Jung
Hyun Wook
HW
Lee
Jun Haeng
JH
Son
Hee Jung
HJ
Rhee
Poong Lyul
PL
Kim
Jae J
JJ
Rhee
Jong Chul
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016888:Angiodysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors