Gastric antral vascular ectasia (watermelon stomach)-an enigmatic and often-overlooked cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in the elderly.
Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) syndrome, also known as watermelon stomach is a significant cause of acute or chronic gastrointestinal blood loss in the elderly. is characterized endoscopically by "watermelon stripes." Without cirrhosis, patients are 71% female, average age 73, presenting with occult blood loss leading to transfusion-dependent chronic iron-deficiency anemia, severe acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and nondescript abdominal pain.
Nguyen
Hien
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Hien Nguyen, MD, is an Internist at the Camp Springs Medical Center in Temple Hills, MD, and an Attending Internist at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. E-mail: hientrinhnguyen@yahoo.com .
Le
Connie
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Nguyen
Hanh
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