title: Long-term effect of argon plasma coagulation (APC) in the treatment of gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a distinct vascular abnormality, mainly involving the gastric antrum. It is a rare but well-known cause of occult gastrointestinal bleeding. Various endoscopic treatment modalities have been tried in this condition. The aim of the study is to show the long-term effect of argon plasma coagulation (APC) on GAVE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine patients with endoscopically proved GAVE were enrolled in the study. Clinical assessment of GAVE patients, haemoglobin (Hb) level and transfused blood units were recorded after APC using 60-80-W power setting. A second session was done 1month after the therapeutic procedure to ensure complete ablation of all lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The documented Hb levels and number of blood units transfused 3months after APC were recorded. At endoscopy, all patients had the classic type of GAVE. The mean Hb level increased from 7.5±1.7gdl(-1) before APC to 10.2±0.8gdl(-1) after APC (p value <0.001). The transfusion requirements significantly decreased to 0.2±0.5units/patient (p value <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic APC is a safe, effective and inexpensive modality in treating GAVE and could be an alternative to the currently available endoscopic methods.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. seragesmat@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mazen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naga
authors.forename: Serag
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esmat
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naguib
authors.forename: Heba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sedrak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057908:Argon Plasma Coagulation; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D020252:Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins