Watermelon stomach

Abstract

Watermelon stomach is a rare cause of chronic gastroinestinal bleeding. It is often associated with some other diseases, as for example the primary billiary cirrhosis, autoimmune diseases or connective tissue disorders. Pathogenesis is still unclear. The role of chronic prolaps of gastric mucosa, influence of other diseases or local neurohormon disturbancies are taken into account. The most important in diagnosis is typical endoscopic view and characteristic histology. The fundamental thing in management is to stop chronic and massive blood loss, requiring multiple transfusions. Farmacotherapy does not bring satisfactory results and definite treatment is antrectomy. A very good alternative is endoscopic therapy by means of heater probe, bipolar electrocoagulation or laser photocoagulation, especially in patients with poor operation risk. Patients who cannot undergo endoscopic treatment can be offered sterydotherapy, also quite effective method but with its typical side effects.