title: [Colic angiodysplasia and chronic haemodialysis. Argon plasma treatment. A case report].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia is a very common cause of digestive haemorrhage among patients with chronic renal insufficiency. It is well known that bleeding from angiodysplasias can be a difficult therapeutic problem since therapeutic possibilities are scarce and surgery is scolded with high mortality rate. Endoscopic argon plasma ablation therapy is a new, effective and safe treatment in the management of gastrointestinal angiodysplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reported a case of a female haemodialysis patient aged 40 years. She was haemodialysed since 6 years in our center from unknown nephropathy. In March 2006, she complained of black stools and melena, and developed severe anaemia (Haemoglobin at 4 g/dL). Exploratory endoscope examination of the digestive tract showed the presence of bleeding from angiodysplastic lesions of the right colon. The patient had severe clinical picture extension of angiodysplastic lesions and frequent bleeding episodes. Bleeding arrest was observed after argon plasma coagulation, with a significant decrease of blood transfusions and improvement of anaemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia was reported to be an important complication in dialysis patients and was recognized as an important cause of erythropoietin-resistant anaemia. It can worsen vital prognosis. Argon plasma coagulation is an effective treatment in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne A, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie. ranou04@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Karima
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boubaker
authors.forename: Soumaya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boubaker
authors.forename: Mondher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ounissi
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harzallah
authors.forename: Fethi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: El Younsi
authors.forename: Hayet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaaroud
authors.forename: Ezzedine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abderrahim
authors.forename: Taieb
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ben Abdallah
authors.forename: Fethi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khédhiri
authors.forename: Hédi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ben Maïz
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kheder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016888:Angiodysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D044682:Colon, Ascending / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008551:Melena / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome