Abstract
We studied 41 patients with renal failure prospectively to assess the value of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in detecting occult bleeding after an abrupt fall in hemoglobin (Hb) level. Thirty-four patients were on maintenance dialysis, six on plasma exchange, and one on dialysis and plasma exchange. At gastroscopy two patients (4.9%) had bleeding lesions, five patients (12%) peptic ulcers without bleeding, and 18 patients (44%) mild esophagitis, gastritis, or duodenitis. Although mucosal abnormalities in the upper gastrointestinal tract were common, clinically inapparent gastrointestinal bleeding was only rarely responsible for sudden changes of Hb in these patients.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 43-45 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of clinical gastroenterology |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1987 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Chronic renal failure
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Hemodialysis
- Plasma exchange
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gastroenterology