title: Rate and predictive factors of rebleeding with obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. bowelkim@smc.samsung.co.kr
authors.forename: Jong Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun Wook
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jun Haeng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hee Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Poong Lyul
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Jae J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rhee
mesh_terms: 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