Angiodysplasia as a cause of recurrent bleeding from the small bowel in patients with von Willebrand disease. Report of 4 patients.

Angiodysplasia, characterized by the presence of malformed vessels in the submucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, may be a cause of recurrent bleeding. Bleeding angiodysplasia can be associated with von Willebrand disease (vWD) and this coincidence is probably the consequence of the lack of high molecular weight molecules of von Willebrand factor in the plasma. We report four patients with unexplained repeated massive intestinal bleeding, recurrent melena and iron deficiency anemia, which required numerous blood transfusions. All patients were adults (average age 68 years). Three patients have congenital von Willebrand disease (type 1, 2A and 3) and one idiopathic acquired von Willenbrand syndrome. Correct diagnosis was made 2-5 years after the onset of the symptoms and was confirmed by histopathological examination of surgically resected small bowel, where vascular lesions were located. Elderly patients with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding and unexplained iron deficiency anemia should be diagnosed for angiodysplasia and vWD.