Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on long-term oral anticoagulation therapy： Endoscopic findings, clinical management and outcome

AIM: Acute gastrointestinal bleeding is a severe complication in patients receiving long-term oral anticoagulant therapy. The purpose of this study was to describe the causes and clinical outcome of these patients. METHODS: From January 1999 to October 2003, 111 patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) were hospitalized while on oral anticoagulants. The causes and clinical outcome of these patients were compared with those of 604 patients hospitalized during 2000-2001 with AUGIB who were not taking warfarin. RESULTS: The most common cause of bleeding was peptic ulcer in 51 patients (45%) receiving anticoagulants compared to 359/604 (59.4%) patients not receiving warfarin (P<0.05). No identifiable source of bleeding could be found in 33 patients (29.7%) compared to 31/604 (5.1%) patients not receiving anticoagulants (P=0.0001). The majority of patients with concurrent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (26/35, 74.3%) had a peptic ulcer as a cause of bleeding while 32/76 (40.8%) patients not taking a great dose of NSAIDs had a negative upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Endoscopic hemostasis was applied and no complication was reported. Six patients (5.4%) were operated due to continuing or recurrent hemorrhage, compared to 23/604 (3.8%) patients not receiving anticoagulants. Four patients died, the overall mortality was 3.6% in patients with AUGIB due to anticoagulants, which was not different from that in patients not receiving anticoagulant therapy. CONCLUSION: Patients with AUGIB while on long-term anticoagulant therapy had a clinical outcome, which is not different from that of patients not taking anticoagulants. Early endoscopy is important for the management of these patients and endoscopic hemostasis can be safely applied.     

Epidemiology of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is an important emergency situation. Population-based epidemiology data are important to get insight in the actual healthcare problem. There are only few recent epidemiological surveys regarding acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Several surveys focusing on peptic ulcer disease showed a significant decrease in admission and mortality of peptic ulcer disease. Several more recent epidemiological surveys show a decrease in incidence of all cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The incidence of peptic ulcer bleeding remained stable. Peptic ulcer bleeding is the most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, responsible for about 50% of all cases, followed by oesophagitis and erosive disease. Variceal bleeding is the cause of bleeding in cirrhotic patients in 50-60%. Rebleeding in upper gastrointestinal bleeding occurs in 7-16%, despite endoscopic therapy. Rebleeding is especially high in variceal bleeding and peptic ulcer bleeding. Mortality ranges between 3 and 14% and did not change in the past 10 years. Mortality is increasing with increasing age and is significantly higher in patients who are already admitted in hospital for co-morbidity. Risk factors for peptic ulcer bleeding are NSAIDs use and H. pylori infection. In patients at risk for gastrointestinal bleeding and using NSAIDs, a protective drug was only used in 10%. COX-2 selective inhibitors do cause less gastroduodenal ulcers compared to non-selective NSAIDs, however, more cardiovascular adverse events are reported. H. pylori infection is found in about 50% of peptic ulcer bleeding patients. H. pylori should be tested for in all ulcer patients and eradication should be given.     

Which peptic ulcer patients bleed?

In order to identify factors associated with peptic ulcers which present with bleeding rather than with pain, we have prospectively evaluated patient and endoscopic features in 139 consecutive patients presenting with acute bleeding and 74 presenting with pain found to have peptic ulceration at endoscopy. Patients with bleeding were more likely to have taken non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs within the preceding four weeks (58% v 18%, p less than 0.001). They were older (66 v 51 years, p less than 0.001), more likely to have had a previous ulcer complication (21% v 1%, p less than 0.001), and to have an ulcer diameter greater than 20 mm (27% v 6%, p less than 0.05). The presence of one or more of these features in a patient who develops a peptic ulcer appears to be associated with a greater likelihood of presentation with a gastrointestinal haemorrhage.     

Enhanced gastric mucosal haemostasis after upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

An endoscopic technique for the measurement of gastric mucosal bleeding time has been developed to study gastric haemostasis in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The relation of gastric mucosal bleeding time to skin bleeding time and nonsterodial anti-inflammatory drug usage was examined in 61 control patients and in 47 patients presenting with bleeding peptic ulcers or erosions. Gastric mucosal bleeding time was shorter in patients with haemorrhage (median 2 minutes, range 0-5 minutes) than in the control group (median 4 minutes, range 2-8 minutes) (p less than 0.001). Skin bleeding times were similar in the two groups (medians 4 minutes in patients with haemorrhage and 4.5 minutes in controls). In 21 patients with haemorrhage who were taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the median gastric mucosal bleeding time (2.5 minutes, range 1.0-5.0 minutes) was similar to that in 26 patients with haemorrhage not associated with these drugs (2.0 minutes, range 0.0-5.0 minutes). These results show that gastric mucosal haemostasis is accelerated in response to haemorrhage in the upper gastrointestinal tract, even in patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This enhanced gastric haemostasis probably reflects a local protective response to minimise blood loss from the bleeding lesion.     

Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage,Gastric Ulcer and Aspirin

In 1,634 admissions for acute gastroduodenal haemorrhage, the diagnosis was chronic peptic ulcer in two thirds, and “acute lesion” in one quarter. The age incidence of female gastric ulcer was bimodal, with peaks in the fifth and seventh decades. This was in conformity with previous observations of a younger group of female gastric ulcer patients in this community. A high proportion of this younger group took aspirin preparations regularly. 66% of the ulcer and "acute lesion" groups had taken aspirin before haemorrhage. However, in nearly 50% this was part of a regular habit of aspirin taking and in only 17% was it an isolated event. More of the “acute lesion” group took isolated aspirin before bleeding than the ulcer groups but the difference was not significant. The significance of isolated aspirin taking in the aetiology of acute gastroduodenal haemorrhage has been exaggerated by a failure to distinguish it from regular aspirin intake. In both males and females there was a significant association of gastric ulcer bleeding and regular aspirin consumption compared with the duodenal ulcer and “acute lesion” groups. Isolated aspirin taking occurred in those with pre-existing ulcer as well as those with “acute lesions”.     

Combined Endoscopy in Upper Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage

Summary: Combined endoscopic examination was performed in 206 patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. This represents 92% of all patients admitted with this emergency to one hospital over a 12 month period.
Endoscopy achieved a diagnosis of the cause of bleeding in 92% of patients. The causes were: Pyloroduodenal ulcer 32%, haemorrhagic gastritis and gastric erosions 23%, gastric ulcer 20%, oesophageal varices 6%, Mallory Weiss lesion 5%, haemorrhagic duodenitis 5%, gastric carcinoma 4%, miscellaneous causes 5%. Combined lesions were found in 12% of patients.
Follow up assessment revealed endoscopy to be an accurate investigation.
The mortality for the series was 4.8%. Half the deaths resulted from bleeding oesophageal varices with advanced liver disease.
It is suggested that because of its accuracy and high diagnostic yield, early endoscopy may replace contrast radiography as the first investigation in upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.     

住院患者消化道出血的病因分布与临床分析

目的统计分析消化道出血的病因与相关因素,分析消化内镜在消化道出血患者中的应用,并比较上消化道出血患者和下消化道出血患者的临床差异。方法对宜昌市中心人民医院消化内科2012年1月-2012年12月所有434例消化道出血住院患者进行回顾性分析。结果消化道出血占消化科所有住院患者的17.5%,消化性溃疡、食管胃底静脉曲张、急性胃黏膜病变和结肠癌为消化道出血的主要原因。上消化道出血以消化性溃疡、食管胃底静脉曲张、急性胃黏膜病变、胃癌居多,下消化道出血主要为结肠癌、结肠息肉、炎症性肠病及慢性结肠炎。内镜对消化道出血患者的诊断阳性率高(83.4%),内镜下介入治疗患者较未接受内镜介入治疗患者有更高的治愈率(91.0%vs 65.5%,P0.05)和更少的住院时间[(8.2±4.3)d vs(12.8±6.1)d,P0.05]。结论消化性溃疡、食管胃底静脉曲张、急性胃黏膜病变、结肠癌为消化道出血最常见的病因,内镜检查可明显提高诊断率,内镜介入治疗可提高治疗成功率。     

The etiology of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis

108 patients suffering from the cirrhosis of the liver and acute bleeding into the upper digestive tract underwent a prospective endoscopic examination with diagnostic and therapeutic objectives. The most frequent causes of acute bleeding included oesophagus varices (57.4%) followed by peptic gastric ulcer (13.9%) and peptic ulcer of duodenum (11.1%), then portal hypertension gastropathy (5.6%), gastric varices (4.6%), reflux oesophagitis (2.8%), Mallory-Weiss syndrom (2.8%) and erosive gastropathy (0.9%). The endoscopy of the upper digestive tract in one patient resulted in negative diagnosis. 69% of examinations showed multiple findings in the upper digestive tract, each of which could have been a potential cause of bleeding. To determine the source of bleeding the specialist's attitude presented at the end of the endoscopic examination was taken into consideration. In 67.6% of patients the bleeding was a direct consequence of portal hypertension, in 62% it was caused by varices. The emphasis is put on early and thorough endoscopic examinations aimed at proper diagnosis and therapy.     

Changes in characteristics and outcome of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage: a comparison of epidemiology and practices between 1996 and 2000 in a multicentre French study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the main changes in characteristics, practices and outcome between 1996 and 2000 in patients admitted for an acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage (AUGIH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients (n=1165) admitted for an AUGIH in four French administrative areas were entered into two separate 6-month studies conducted in 1996 (n=712) and 2000 (n=453). Epidemiological and biological characteristics, endoscopic haemostatic procedures and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Patient characteristics remained unchanged between the two studies; the two main bleeding lesions were peptic ulcer and oesophagogastric varices (30.2 versus 31.1% and 22.5 versus 20.3%). The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin was more frequent in 2000 (26.5 versus 32.6%; P<0.03). Proton pump inhibitor preventative therapy was administered in less than 15% of patients with a high risk of peptic ulcer bleeding in each period. In patients admitted for varices bleeding, the use of endoscopic haemostatic ligation increased (17.1 versus 40%; P<0.001), with a concomitant decrease in endoscopic sclerotic therapy (76.1 versus 37.5%; P<0.001). We observed a significant decrease in AUGIH mortality in the whole group (11.7 versus 7.2%; P=0.03), and particularly in the subgroup of cirrhotic patients (19.5 versus 11.1%; P=0.05) whatever the source of their bleeding. CONCLUSION: Our time-trend evaluation of changes in AUGIH characteristics revealed that peptic ulcer and varices were still the two most frequent bleeding lesions. In patients with varices bleeding, endoscopic ligation became the routine standard treatment instead of varices sclerosis. The mortality rate decreased significantly over the 5-year study period in the whole group and particularly in the subgroup of cirrhotic patients.     

Changes in aetiology and clinical outcome of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding during the last 15 years

OBJECTIVES: The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding have been improved during the last decades. The aim of this study was to compare the aetiology and clinical outcome of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) between two distinct periods during the last 15 years. METHODS: The causes of AUGIB and clinical outcome of 668 patients hospitalised with the problem in 1986-1987 were compared to 636 patients with AUGIB in 2000-2001. Patients were admitted to our hospital or they bled while they were inpatients for other reasons. No patient was excluded because of age or concurrent diseases. Endoscopic haemostasis with adrenaline injection for bleeding peptic ulcers was performed in the second period while no endoscopic method of haemostasis was performed in the first period. RESULTS: We observed an increase in the age of patients (56.5 +/- 16.9 vs 62.9 +/- 17.5 years, P < 0.0001) and the percentage of patients who received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) before bleeding (from 44% to 63.5%, P < 0.0001). An increase in the diagnosis rate of gastric ulcer (12% vs 19.2%, P = 0.005) and varices (13.2% vs 3.3%, P < 0.001) with a simultaneous decrease in that of erosive gastroduodenitis (18.4% vs 7.2%, P < 0.0001) and duodenal ulcer (48.7% vs 33.3%, P < 0.0001) as a cause of bleeding was also observed. In peptic ulcer bleeding, emergency surgical haemostasis was reduced from 14% to 5.3%, P < 0.001. Overall mortality was also reduced from 5.2% to 3.1% and in peptic ulcer bleeding patients from 3.3% to 2.4%, respectively, but the differences are not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The aetiology of AUGIB has changed during the last 15 years probably due to the better therapeutic approach to chronic duodenal ulcers and increasing use of NSAIDs in the elderly. Emergency surgical haemostasis has been reduced but the reduction of mortality was not significant.     

Management of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage

Abstract Endoscopic therapy is the first treatment modality in the management algorithm of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. In treating bleeding peptic ulcers, diluted epinephrine is first injected followed by targeted treatment to the vessel. Combination therapy adding thermocoagulation or thrombin/fibrin products has been shown to further improve the rate of haemostasis. There is also some evidence to suggest that adjuvant use of optimal acid suppression using high-dose proton pump inhibitors can reduce recurrent bleeding after initial endoscopic control. In treating acute variceal haemorrhage, early administration of vasoactive agents facilitates endoscopic treatment. These drugs should be continued during and after endoscopic therapy to prevent recurrent in-hospital bleeding. Firm evidence exists to date that band ligation is the endoscopic treatment of choice in the acute control of bleeding varices and their secondary prophylaxis against recurrent bleeding. The role of band ligation as primary prophylaxis for first bleeding remains controversial. Transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunts are used as a rescue procedure when endoscopic treatment fails. In selected patients with recurrent variceal haemorrhage and good hepatic reserves, surgical shunts may be indicated.     

Endoscopic injection therapy for bleeding peptic ulcer; a comparison of adrenaline alone with adrenaline plus ethanolamine oleate.

One hundred and seven consecutive patients presenting with significant peptic ulcer haemorrhage were randomised to endoscopic injection with 3-10 ml of 1:100,000 adrenaline (55 patients, group 1) or to a combination of adrenaline and 5% ethanolamine (52 patients, group 2). All had major stigmata of haemorrhage and endoscopic injection was undertaken by a single endoscopist. The groups were well matched with regard to risk factors. Rebleeding occurred in eight of the group 1 patients and seven in the group 2 patients; surgical operation rates, median blood transfusion requirements, and hospital stay were similar in both groups. The efficacy of either form of injection was similar whether patients presented with active bleeding or a non-bleeding visible vessel. No complications occurred. In patients presenting with significant peptic ulcer bleeding, the addition of a sclerosant confers no advantage over injection with adrenaline alone.     

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in patients aged 80 years or more

A retrospective study of 208 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies (including 56 therapeutic procedures) performed over a 3-year period on 150 patients aged 80 years or more has shown that endoscopy is safe and well tolerated in this age group. Only 10% of first endoscopies were normal. If endoscopies performed for therapy or assessment of peptic ulcer healing are excluded, 79% of endoscopies were considered helpful in revealing the cause of the patients symptoms and/or aiding the patients' management. Endoscopy was particularly helpful in patients with gastrointestinal haemorrhage or dysphagia. Of 63 emergency endoscopies for acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, a source of bleeding was found in 82%. Out-patient diagnostic endoscopy and even out-patient endoscopic oesophageal dilatation was safe in the more robust elderly patient. Patients aged 80 years or more made up 5% of all upper gastrointestinal endoscopies and 10% of all emergency endoscopies performed in our unit. The study emphasizes the important contribution of sophisticated investigative techniques to the care of the elderly.     

Acute GI bleeding in the setting of supratherapeutic international normalized ratio in patients taking warfarin: endoscopic diagnosis, clinical management, and outcomes

BACKGROUND: Acute GI bleeding is a life-threatening complication of warfarin therapy. Acute GI bleeding in patients with an international normalized ratio of 4.0 or greater (supratherapeutic) is often attributed to trivial mucosal lesions. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of potentially significant lesions that would warrant endoscopy in this setting. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of patients treated with warfarin who were admitted to a single Veterans Affairs hospital from 1996 to 2000 with acute GI bleeding. Endoscopic findings, clinical management, and outcomes are reviewed for patients with a supratherapeutic international normalized ratio (>or=4.0) and compared with patients with an international normalized ratio in the therapeutic range (2.0-3.9). RESULTS: Fifty-five patients with an international normalized ratio of 4.0 or greater (mean 8.4 [3.9]) and 43 patients with an international normalized ratio between 2.0 and 3.9 (mean 2.9 [0.6]) were hospitalized with acute GI bleeding. Thirty-seven patients (67%) with a supratherapeutic international normalized ratio and GI bleeding underwent upper endoscopy. Of these, 81.1% had positive findings, 18.9% had peptic ulcer disease, and 7.2% required endoscopic treatment. Thirty-eight percent of the patients with a supratherapeutic international normalized ratio underwent lower endoscopy; of these, 57.1% had abnormal findings and 9.5% required endoscopic treatment. Four patients (7.3%) in the supratherapeutic international normalized ratio group died during the index hospitalization. When patients with GI bleeding and a therapeutic international normalized ratio were compared with those with a supratherapeutic international normalized ratio, there were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to days of hospitalization, units of blood transfused, frequency of recurrent bleeding, need for surgery, or in-hospital deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The high frequency of clinically significant lesions in patients taking warfarin with an international normalized ratio in the supratherapeutic range and acute GI bleeding supports a role for endoscopic evaluation.     

Value of a centralised approach in the management of haematemesis and melaena: experience in a district general hospital.

All patients presenting with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding between November 1986 and April 1988 were admitted to a centralised joint medical/surgical unit, with a policy of early clinical and endoscopic assessment and rapid surgical intervention in those at high risk. Of the 430 patients admitted 69.5% were over the age of 60 and 30% had significant additional medical conditions. 50.4% were bleeding from peptic ulcers and one third had been taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Fifty five patients underwent surgery, which in two thirds was carried out within 24 hours of admission, usually for continued bleeding. In patients with peptic ulcer the operation rate was 21.6%. Overall mortality was 3.7%, and in those with bleeding gastric or duodenal ulcers 5.5%; surgical mortality in the later group was 15.2%. All patients who died had serious concomitant pathology and 87% were over 70 years of age. Adoption of a centralised approach to management of haematemasis and melaena is feasible in a District General Hospital and associated with an improved survival.     

老年消化性溃疡230例临床与内镜特点探讨

目的：研究老年消化性溃疡的临床特征和内镜特点.方法：分析2009年12月～2010年8月收治的230例老年消化性溃疡患者,并分析这230例老年消化性溃疡患者的临床资料.结果：230例老年消化性溃疡患者中,其中男性患者140例,占60.87%,女性患者90例,占39.13%;有不良嗜好（如吸烟,喝酒）者共60例,其中男性43例,占71.67%,女性17例,占28.33%;将230例患者分为有不良嗜好组和无不良嗜好组两组,其中不良嗜好组幽门梗阻、上消化道出血、巨大溃疡有39例,发生率为65%;无不良嗜好组幽门梗阻、上消化道出血、巨大溃疡有35例,占20.59%,不良嗜好组幽门梗阻、上消化道出血、巨大溃疡发生率明显高于无不良嗜好组.经统计学分析有统计学差异.结论：老年消化性溃疡男性发生率比女性高,消化性溃疡并发症幽门梗阻、上消化道出血、巨大溃疡跟不良嗜好之间有一定的联系.     

Is the AIMS65 score useful in predicting outcomes in peptic ulcer bleeding?

AIM:To evaluate the applicability of AIMS65 scores in predicting outcomes of peptic ulcer bleeding.METHODS:This was a retrospective study in a single center between January 2006 and December 2011.We enrolled 522 patients with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage who visited the emergency room.Highrisk patients were regarded as those who had rebleeding within 30 d from the first endoscopy as well as those who died within 30 d of visiting the Emergency room.A total of 149 patients with peptic ulcer bleeding were analysed,and the AIMS65 score was used to retrospectively predict the high-risk patients.RESULTS:A total of 149 patients with peptic ulcer bleeding were analysed.The poor outcome group comprised 28 patients[male:23(82.1%)vs female:5(10.7%)]while the good outcome group included 121patients[male:93(76.9%)vs female:28(23.1%)].The mean age in each group was not significantly different.The mean serum albumin levels in the poor outcome group were slightly lower than those in the good outcome group(P=0.072).For the prediction of poor outcome,the AIMS65 score had a sensitivity of35.5%(95%CI:27.0-44.8)and a specificity of 82.1%(95%CI:63.1-93.9)at a score of 0.The AIMS65 score was insufficient for predicting outcomes in peptic ulcer bleeding(area under curve=0.571;95%CI:0.49-0.65).CONCLUSION:The AIMS65 score may therefore not be suitable for predicting clinical outcomes in peptic ulcer bleeding.Low albumin levels may be a risk factor associated with high mortality in peptic ulcer bleeding.     

Controlled trial of cimetidine in upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

One hundred and one patients were studied in a double-blind controlled trial to assess the role of oral cimetidine in preventing the continuation or recurrence of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage from various sources, chiefly peptic ulcer. The dose of cimetidine was 800 mg on entering the study followed by 400 mg six hourly. The source of bleeding was identified endoscopically in 96% of patients, peptic ulcer comprising 70%. Bleeding continued or recurred in 11 of 51 (21.5%) of patients on cimetidine and in 12 of 50 (24%) of patients on placebo. Analysis of the effect of cimetidine according to age or severity of bleeding showed no significant advantage for the drug.     

Factors associated with failure of endoscopic injection haemostasis in bleeding peptic ulcers.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of a submucosal injection of adrenaline solution in endoscopic haemostasis is well documented in patients suffering from peptic ulcer bleeding. After treatment, however, a significant number of patients continue to bleed or rebleed, and require emergency surgical intervention. The aim of this study was to define factors associated with the failure of endoscopic injection haemostatic therapy in peptic ulcer bleeding. METHODS: In the period 1992 to 1998, we prospectively studied all patients suffering from peptic ulcer bleeding and identified endoscopically as being either bleeding actively or carrying a visible vessel. A total of 427 patients (343 men and 84 women; mean age 58.6 +/- 16.6 years) were all subjected to endoscopic injection with adrenaline solution on an emergency basis. Patients who eventually required surgical intervention for permanent haemostasis were considered as endoscopic haemostasis failures, whereas those who did not were considered as endoscopic treatment successes. We evaluated all clinical and endoscopic parameters that might have been related to failure of endoscopic injection therapy. RESULTS: Endoscopic injection haemostasis was successful in 341 patients (79.9%) and a failure in 86 (20.1%) who finally underwent emergency surgical haemostasis. On analysing the examined parameters, failure was significantly related to shock on admission (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.33, 6.97), spurt bleeding at endoscopy (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.51, 3.98), posteriorly located duodenal ulcer (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.37, 7.01) and anastomotic ulcer (OR 3.39, 95% CI 1.37, 7.29). Endoscopic injection haemostasis therapy was less effective in patients with chronic ulcers compared to those who had acute NSAID-related ulcers. A history of peptic ulcer (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.14, 3.05), previous peptic ulcer bleeding (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.51, 3.98) or non-use of NSAIDs (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.33, 4.62) were negative predictors for the outcome of endoscopic haemostasis. CONCLUSION: With the use of specific clinical and endoscopic characteristics it is possible to define a subgroup of high-risk patients for continued bleeding or rebleeding despite endoscopic injection therapy. These patients may be candidates for intensive monitoring, early surgical intervention or possibly complementary endoscopic haemostatic methods.     

Clinical and upper gastroendoscopic features of patients with dengue virus infection

Clinical observation was made on 238 dengue fever cases during an epidemic in Taiwan from September to November 1988. Dengue virus infection type 1 was responsible for all cases. The majority of patients had acute onset of fever with abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and vomiting. Gastrointestinal haemorrhage with manifestation of haematemesis and/or melena was observed in 28 (11.8%) of our patients. The clinical gastrointestinal features in patients with a peptic ulcer history were not different from those in patients without it. There was no significant difference in incidence of gastrointestinal manifestations between premedication and non-premedication patients. Sixty-six non-premedication patients in our series were examined by gastroduodenoscopy. Haemorrhagic gastritis was the most common finding in 27 (40.9%) patients. The incidence of gastric and/or duodenal ulcerations was higher in patients with a peptic ulcer history compared with those without it (P less than 0.01). However, the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding was similar between these two groups (19.2% vs 9.8%). Thrombocytopenia in patients with gastrointestinal haemorrhage was more prominent than in those without it (P less than 0.005). This implied that thrombocytopenia might be one of the predisposing factors for gastrointestinal haemorrhage.