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
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12890/2020_002099

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: Vol 7 No 12 (view)

    Section: Articles

    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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