Efficacy of neodymium:YAG laser therapy for gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) following hematopoietic cell transplant

HSCT-GAVE as a Manifestation of Chronic Graft versus Host Disease: A Case Report and Review of the Existing Literature

Gastric antral vascular ectasia or “watermelon stomach” is a significant cause of nonvariceal upper GI bleeding and is characterized by red, tortuous ectatic vessels along longitudinal folds in the gastric antrum. The existing literature links GAVE to patients with cirrhosis, scleroderma, bone marrow transplantation, and chronic renal failure among other associations, but its pathophysiology remains ill-defined. Over 30 cases of hematopoietic stem cell transplant-related GAVE (HSCT-GAVE) have been reported in the literature to date and there are likely many more that go undiagnosed or are attributed to another cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Interestingly, a busulfan-containing conditioning regimen has been the primary factor implicated in the etiology of HSCT-GAVE because this was common to all cases in the literature to date. Here, we present the first case of HSCT-GAVE in a patient that was treated with a non-busulfan-containing conditioning regimen. We propose a link between chronic GVHD and the development of HSCT-GAVE that is supported by a similar development of GAVE in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Medical and endoscopic therapies for angiodysplasia and gastric antral vascular ectasia: a systematic review

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Few studies have compared the efficacy and complications of endoscopic or medical therapies for bleeding angiodysplasias or gastric antral vascular ectasias (GAVE). We conducted a systematic review to evaluate therapies.

METHODS

We performed a PubMed search for studies (written in English from January 1, 1980, through January 1, 2013) of medical or endoscopic treatment of bleeding angiodysplasias and GAVE. Measured outcomes included levels of hemoglobin, transfusion requirements, rebleeding rates, complications, treatment failures, and overall mortality.

RESULTS

We analyzed data from 63 studies that met inclusion criteria; 50 evaluated endoscopic treatment (1790 patients), 13 evaluated medical treatment (392 patients), and 12 were comparative studies. In patients with angiodysplasias, the combination of estrogen and progesterone did not significantly reduce bleeding episodes, compared with placebo (0.7/y vs 0.9/y, respectively), and increased mortality, compared with conservative therapy (33% vs 21%). A higher percentage of patients receiving octreotide were free of rebleeding at 1 and 2 years vs placebo (77% vs 55% and 68% vs 36%, respectively; P = .03). Thalidomide reduced the number of bleeding episodes (-8.96/y), compared with iron therapy (-1.38/y, P < .01), but neither treatment reduced mortality. More patients with GAVE treated by endoscopic band ligation were free from rebleeding (92%) than those treated with argon plasma coagulation (32%, P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

In a systematic review, we found a low quality of evidence to support treatment of angiodysplasias with thalidomide or the combination of estrogen and progesterone and insufficient evidence to support treatment with octreotide. There is also insufficient evidence for endoscopic therapy of angiodysplasia or GAVE. Well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to study the efficacy and complications of medical and endoscopic treatments for patients with angiodysplasias or GAVE.

Review article: gastrointestinal angiodysplasia - pathogenesis, diagnosis and management

BACKGROUND

Angiodysplasia (AD) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is an important condition that can cause significant morbidity and -rarely - mortality.

AIM

To provide an up-to-date comprehensive summary of the literature evaluating this disease entity with a particular focus on pathogenesis as well as current and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Recommendations for treatment will be made on the basis of the current available evidence and consensus opinion of the authors.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed. The search strategy used the keywords 'angiodysplasia' or 'arteriovenous malformation' or 'angioectasia' or 'vascular ectasia' or 'vascular lesions' or 'vascular abnormalities' or 'vascular malformations' in the title or abstract.

RESULTS

Most AD lesions (54-81.9%) are detected in the caecum and ascending colon. They may develop secondary to chronic low-grade intermittent obstruction of submucosal veins coupled with increased vascular endothelial growth factor-dependent proliferation. Endotherapy with argon plasma coagulation resolves bleeding in 85% of patients with colonic AD. In patients who fail (or are not suitable for) other interventions, treatment with thalidomide or octreotide can lead to a clinically meaningful response in 71.4% and 77% of patients respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Angiodysplasia is a rare, but important, cause of both overt and occult GI bleeding especially in the older patients. Advances in endoscopic imaging and therapeutic techniques have led to improved outcomes in these patients. The choice of treatment should be decided on a patient-by-patient basis. Further research is required to better understand the pathogenesis and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Post-transplant gastric antral vascular ectasia after intra-venous busulfan regimen

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is an angiodysplastic disorder that causes gastric bleeding. GAVE can develop as a complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT-GAVE), and it has been suggested that it may be associated with oral administration of busulfan. We report two cases of HSCT-GAVE after a conditioning regimen containing intra-venous busulfan (ivBu), not oral busulfan. The first case, a 42-year-old woman with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm, underwent second allogeneic HSCT with conditioning regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide (120 mg/kg) and ivBu (12.8 mg/kg). HSCT-GAVE developed on day 84 post-transplant, and argon plasma coagulation (APC) was performed successfully. The second case, a 60-year-old woman with acute myelogenous leukemia, underwent allogeneic HSCT with the conditioning regimen consisting of ivBu (12.8 mg/kg) and fludarabine (150 mg/kg). She developed melena and was diagnosed with GAVE by endoscopy on day 145 post-transplant. Although complete hemostasis was not achieved despite four administrations of APCs, the melena spontaneously terminated on day 235 post-transplant. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing HSCT-GAVE after ivBU-based HSCT. Although there is no established therapy for HSCT-GAVE, APC may be an option for HSCT-GAVE.

The management of portal hypertensive gastropathy and gastric antral vascular ectasia

Portal hypertensive gastropathy and gastric antral vascular ectasia are gastric mucosal lesions that can cause chronic gastrointestinal haemorrhage and, consequently, chronic anaemia, in patients with cirrhosis. Although chronic anaemia is the most common clinical manifestation, these entities may also lead to acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Despite similar clinical manifestations, their pathophysiology and management are entirely different. Their diagnosis is endoscopic and although generally each of them has a characteristic endoscopic appearance and distribution, there are cases in which the differential is difficult and must rely on histology. This review focuses on the management of both entities. The mainstay of management of portal hypertensive gastropathy is based on portal-hypotensive pharmacological treatment whilst gastric antral vascular ectasia benefits from endoscopic therapy. More invasive options should be reserved for refractory cases.

Management of gastropathy and gastric vascular ectasia in portal hypertension

Portal hypertensive gastropathy and gastric antral vascular ectasia may cause gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients with portal hypertension. Whereas the former presents exclusively in patients with portal hypertension, gastric antral vascular ectasia can also be observed in patients with other conditions. Diagnosis is established with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, although some cases may require a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. The most frequent manifestation is ferropenic anemia, which may become transfusion dependent. Treatment in portal hypertensive gastropathy is focused on portal pressure reducing drugs, mainly nonselective beta-blockers, whereas in gastric antral vascular ectasia treatment is based on endoscopic ablation. More invasive options can be used if first-line therapies fail, although these should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.