Understanding Angiodysplasias

An angiodysplasia is an abnormal blood vessel that can form in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It is also called an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). These can occur anywhere in the GI tract. But they are often found in the colon.

How to say it

an-JEE-oh-dihs-play-zheh

What causes an angiodysplasia?

The exact cause of an angiodysplasia is not known. But they most often occur in people older than age 60. You may also be at higher risk for one if you have:

• Heart disease.

• Chronic kidney disease.

• Bleeding disorder.

What are the symptoms of an angiodysplasia?

It can cause bleeding in the GI tract. So you may have blood in your stool. Or you may have no symptoms. It's often found during an endoscopy or colonoscopy that has been done for some other reason.

Sometimes people get anemia when they have an angiodysplasia. This means they don’t have enough healthy red blood cells in the blood. It can occur from the bleeding. Anemia may make you feel tired and weak.

How is an angiodysplasia diagnosed?

To diagnose an angiodysplasia, your health care provider must look inside your GI tract. Several procedures can be used. You may have already had 1 or more of these:

• Upper endoscopy. During this test, your provider puts a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope down your esophagus. The scope can reach into your stomach and the first part of your small intestine (duodenum). The scope has a small camera on it. With this camera, your provider can see images of your GI tract on a video screen.

• Colonoscopy. This procedure looks at your colon, or large intestine. Your provider puts a scope with a camera on the end into your anus. The scope is moved up into your rectum and colon.

• Capsule endoscopy. For this test, you swallow a pill-sized camera. The camera takes pictures as it goes through your GI tract. The images are sent to a recording device outside your body. The camera leaves your body during a bowel movement. This test may be used when your provider is not sure of the exact location of the angiodysplasia.

• Deep bowel enteroscopy. This procedure can reach deeper into your GI tract, including your small intestine.

• Imaging tests. In some cases, your provider may use a CT or MRA scan to help find the angiodysplasia.

How is an angiodysplasia treated?

Your health care provider will talk with you about treatment options. Treatment will depend on your overall health. It will also depend on if the angiodysplasia is causing any GI bleeding. If there is no bleeding, your provider will decide on the next step to monitor the AVM.

If you have GI bleeding, your provider will help you choose the best treatment. In many cases, an angiodysplasia can be treated during an endoscopy or a colonoscopy. During these procedures, your provider can use energy or heat to stop the bleeding. Or your provider may use clips.

If these treatments don’t work or if they aren’t right for you, you may have one of these procedures:

• Injection sclerotherapy. Medicine is injected into the angiodysplasia to shrink it.

• Angiography. This procedure uses imaging to find and block bleeding.

• Surgery. Your provider may take out the part of your GI tract that has the angiodysplasia.

• Medicines. You may get certain medicines. Your provider will discuss side effects these medicines may cause.

Call 911

Call 911 right away if you have:

• Trouble breathing.

• Blue, purple, or gray skin.

• Chest pain.

• Loss of consciousness or are feeling faint.

• Confusion.

When to contact your health care provider

Contact your provider right away if you:

• Have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your provider.

• Are vomiting blood. Sometimes this looks like coffee grounds.

• Have bloody stool or bleeding from the rectum. This can be red in color or look black and tarry.

• Have symptoms that don’t get better or get worse.

• Have new symptoms.