Pharmacological treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding due to angiodysplasias: A position paper of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology (SIGE)

Abstract

Angioectasias (AD) belong to benign vascular malformations of the gastrointestinal tract and are responsible for about 4-7% of upper non variceal bleeding, 30-40% of small bowel occult bleeding and 3-40% of colonic bleeding episodes. Gastrointestinal haemorrhage secondary to AD represents an important diagnostic and therapeutic problem that negatively impacts on the quality of life of patients and heath care costs. Endoscopic interventions are the mainstay in both diagnosis and treatment of vascular malformations. However, in a substantial percentage of the cases, age of the patients, comorbidities, clinical severity of anaemia and blood loss as well as size, site and number of lesions prevent this therapeutic approach. Hormonal therapy, thalidomide and somatostatin analogues have been investigated for their potential role as rescue therapies in controlling AD bleeding although, thus far, no recommendations have been provided on their use in this clinical setting. In order to implement appropriate prescription of pharmacological agents to manage gastrointestinal bleeding due to ADs, the Italian Society of Gastroenterology (SIGE) nominated a panel of experts who reviewed the available clinical literature and produced practical clinical recommendations.

Keywords: Angiodysplasia; Gastrointestinal bleeding; Hormonal therapy; Somatostatin analogues; Thalidomide.