Case Report

Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (Watermelon Stomach) in a Patient with Sjögren's Syndrome

ARCHANA GOEL and CHARLES L. CHRISTIAN

ABSTRACT.

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE), a rare yet treatable cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, has been described in a variety of autoimmune diseases. We describe a patient who had typical Sjögren's syndrome and iron deficiency anemia requiring blood transfusion. An endoscopy showed characteristic findings of GAVE. After several fulguration therapies with argon-plasma coagulator, the mucosal lesions improved and her hemoglobin levels returned to normal. (J Rheumatol 2003;30:1090-2)

Key Indexing Terms:

SJÖGREN'S SYNDROME
GASTRIC ANTRAL VASCULAR ECTASIA
WATERMELON STOMACH

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From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.

A. Goel, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor; C.L. Christian, MD, Professor, Chief of Rheumatology.

Address reprint requests to Dr. A. Goel, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, 653-1 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209.

Submitted August 6, 2002; revision accepted October 28, 2002.

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