Case Report
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World J Gastrointest Endosc. Mar 16, 2013; 5(3): 135-137
Published online Mar 16, 2013. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v5.i3.135
Massive gastric antral vascular ectasia successfully treated by endoscopic band ligation as the initial therapy
Varayu Prachayakul, Pitulak Aswakul, Somchai Leelakusolvong
Varayu Prachayakul, Somchai Leelakusolvong, Siriraj GI Endoscopy Center, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Varayu Prachayakul, Somchai Leelakusolvong, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Pitulak Aswakul, Liver and Digestive Institute, Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Author contributions: Prachayakul V developed the concept; Prachayakul V and Aswakul P contributed to acquisition of data; Prachayakul V, Aswakul P and Leelakusolvong S revised the paper for important intellectual content; Prachayakul V and Aswakul P wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Varayu Prachayakul, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand. kaiyjr@gmail.com
Telephone: +66-81-8654646 Fax: +66-2-4199610
Received: June 25, 2012
Revised: September 20, 2012
Accepted: January 23, 2013
Published online: March 16, 2013
Abstract

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) accounted for 4% of non-variceal gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Even though unclear pathogenesis, GAVE often associated with chronic renal failure, autoimmune diseases and cirrhosis. Asymptomatic lesions were reasonably not to treated. The treatment options for GAVE are non-endoscopic and endoscopic treatments. For the pharmacological treatment, some success were reported for the use of octreotide, thalidomide and tranexamic acid. While the endoscopic treatment is the mainstay for treatment of symptomatic lesions. The endoscopic ablative therapies such as argon plasma coagulation was reported with good clinical outcomes. However, these treatment options had some limitation due to the need of special equipment and multiple sessions needed to control the bleeding. We reported another treatment option using the routine-achievable instrument such as endoscopic band ligation as an initial treatment which also provided a good treatment outcome and less sessions.

Keywords: Gastric antral vascular ectasia; Non variceal hemorrhage; Endoscopic band ligation; Water melon stomach; Treatment