Gastric antral vascular ectasia (watermelon stomach)--therapeutic options.

We have encountered five cases of chronic iron deficiency anaemia due to bleeding from gastric antral vascular ectasia (watermelon stomach). Two cases were associated with a lymphoma and in three cases there was evidence of portal hypertension. Two patients were treated conservatively by blood transfusions. The other patients required either surgery or tranexamic acid or endoscopic laser therapy to control the chronic haemorrhage.