The Use of Thalidomide in Severe Refractory Anaemia Due to Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (GAVE) in Cirrhosis?
  • Marcelo Aveiro
    Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga, Aveiro, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3491-2222
  • Tatiana Rodrigues
    Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga, Aveiro, Portugal
  • Tiago Rabadão
    Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga, Aveiro, Portugal
  • Filipa Ferreira
    Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga, Aveiro, Portugal
  • Mariana Teixeira
    Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga, Aveiro, Portugal
  • Ana Oliveira
    Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga, Aveiro, Portugal
  • Inês Vasconcelos
    Department of Family Medicine, USF Atlântico Norte, Gafanha da Nazaré, Portugal

Keywords

GAVE, thalidomide, cirrhosis

Abstract

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding associated with cirrhosis. The first-line treatment is endoscopic therapy with argon plasma coagulation (APC). There is a high recurrence rate, but some evidence suggests that thalidomide could play an important role in controlling refractory anaemia due to GAVE. The authors present the case of a cirrhotic patient with a recent diagnosis of GAVE, who underwent multiple endoscopic treatments and blood transfusions because of haematemesis. The patient started thalidomide and 6 months later, there was no recurrence of haematemesis and haemoglobin levels were stable, with no reported adverse effects.

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    Published: 2020-11-18
    Issue: 2020: Vol 7 No 12 (view)


    How to cite:
    1.
    Aveiro M, Rodrigues T, Rabadão T, Ferreira F, Teixeira M, Oliveira A, Vasconcelos I. The Use of Thalidomide in Severe Refractory Anaemia Due to Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (GAVE) in Cirrhosis?. EJCRIM 2020;7 doi:10.12890/2020_002099.

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