Angiodysplastic lesions as a cause of colonic bleeding in patients with chronic renal disease: is there an association?

Gastrointestinal bleeding due to angiodysplastic lesions of the large bowel is a common problem among patients receiving hemodialysis and may sometimes be life-threatening. Several hypotheses have been advanced in order to explain the increased incidence of these lesions in this cohort of patients, including degenerative, metabolic, circulatory and other systemic factors. In terms of diagnosis, several advances have been made with sophisticated techniques, but endoscopy seems to be the most effective, having a dual role in diagnosis and treatment. Although most bleeds stop spontaneously, conservative treatment may not be enough. Endoscopic treatment, embolization with infusion of vasopressin, surgical resection of the bleeding intestinal segment and hormone administration may be useful therapeutic tools.