Alternative Names
Vascular ectasia of the colon; Colonic arteriovenous malformation; Colonic angiomas
Definition of Angiodysplasia of the colon
Angiodysplasia of the colon is enlarged and fragile blood vessels in the colon that result in occasional loss of blood from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Angiodysplasia of the colon is mostly related to the aging and degeneration of the blood vessels. It usually occurs in older adults.
Symptoms
The symptoms vary. Often, in elderly patients, the symptoms are weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath due to anemia. There may not be any signs of bleeding directly from the colon. Others may have occasional mild or severe bleeding episodes with bright red blood coming from the rectum.
Signs and tests
Tests that may be done to diagnose this condition include:
Treatment
When a person is bleeding from the colon, it is important to determine the source of the bleeding and how fast they are losing blood. The patient’s condition must be evaluated continuously and may need to be admitted to a hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU). Fluids may be given through a vein, and blood products may be required.
Expectations (prognosis)
Patients who have bleeding related to this condition despite having had colonoscopy, angiography, or surgery are likely to have more bleeding in the future.
Review
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. – 1/28/2009
