title: Improvement of severe systemic sclerosis-associated gastric antral vascular ectasia following immunosuppressive treatment with intravenous cyclophosphamide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We describe 3 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with severe, transfusion-dependent gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) refractory to laser ablation who showed remarkable clinical and endoscopic improvement following intravenous (IV) pulse cyclophosphamide (CYC) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of clinical records and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy images from 3 patients with SSc and severe GAVE before and after treatment with IV pulse CYC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IV CYC was followed by improvement and stabilization of hemoglobin levels, and marked reduction in blood transfusion requirements and the number and frequency of endoscopic laser treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IV pulse CYC immunosuppression was followed by remarkable clinical and endoscopic improvement of SSc-associated GAVE.
authors: Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine, Division of Connective Tissue Disease, Department of Dermatology and CutaneousBiology, Division of Rheumatology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Division of Rheumatology, Lehigh ValleyHospital, Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA
authors: Steffan W
authors: SW
authors: Schulz
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: O'Brien
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Maqsood
authors: Nora
authors: N
authors: Sandorfi
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Del Galdo
authors: Sergio A
authors: SA
authors: Jimenez
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D020252:Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide