Definition
Angiodysplasia of the colon is when blood vessels in the colon (large intestine) enlarge. They may become weak and result in bleeding in the digestive system.
| Normal Anatomy of the Intestines |
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Risk Factors
This problem is more common in older adults. Other things that may raise the risk are:
- Chronic kidney failure
- History of digestive bleeding
- Heart disease
Symptoms
Problems may be:
- Dark, tarry stools
- Bleeding from the rectum
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Problems breathing
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done.
Blood and stool may be tested.
The internal structures of the body may need to be viewed. This can be done with:
- Upper GI endoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Capsule endoscopy
- Abdominal CT scan
- Angiography
Treatment
Treatment may not be needed. The problem often goes away on its own. People who do need treatment may have:
- A colonoscopy that uses heat to seal bleeding blood vessels
- Angiography to clot the blood supply to the bleeding
- Medicines called somatostatin analogs to prevent bleeding
- Surgery to remove part of the colon
RESOURCES
American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging http://www.healthinaging.org
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases http://www.niddk.nih.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Association of Gastroenterology https://www.cag-acg.org
Canadian Digestive Health Foundation http://www.cdhf.ca
References
Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/gastrointestinal-angiodysplasia. Accessed October 22, 2020.
Jackson CS, Gerson LB. Management of gastrointestinal angiodysplastic lesions (GIADs): a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2014 Apr;109(4):474-483.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
- Review Date: 09/2020
- Update Date: 05/14/2021