[Colic angiodysplasia and chronic haemodialysis. Argon plasma treatment. A case report].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

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.

CASE REPORT:

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.

CONCLUSION:

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: Karima Boubaker, Soumaya Boubaker, Mondher Ounissi, Amel Harzallah, Fethi El Younsi, Hayet Kaaroud, Ezzedine Abderrahim, Taieb Ben Abdallah, Fethi Khédhiri, Hédi Ben Maïz, Adel Kheder
• Journal: Nephrologie & therapeutique (Nephrol Ther) Vol. 6 Issue 4 Pg. 248-50 (Jul 2010) ISSN: 1872-9177 [Electronic] France
• Vernacular Title: Angiodysplasie colique et hémodialyse chronique. Traitement par coagulation au plasma argon. A propos d'un cas.
• PMID: 20413359 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright 2010 Association Société de néphrologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adult
• Angiodysplasia (complications, diagnosis, etiology, surgery)
• Colon, Ascending (pathology, surgery)
• Colonic Diseases (complications, diagnosis, etiology, surgery)
• Colonoscopy
• Female
• Humans
• Lasers, Excimer (therapeutic use)
• Melena (etiology, surgery)
• Renal Dialysis (adverse effects)
• Renal Insufficiency, Chronic (therapy)
• Treatment Outcome