Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (Watermelon Stomach) |
| Author: Shelley Ensz. Scleroderma is highly variable. See Types of Scleroderma. Read Disclaimer |
|
|
What is Watermelon Stomach? |
| Watermelon Stomach may occur in systemic scleroderma but not in localized scleroderma, such as Linear and Morphea. |
 Watermelon Stomach is the popular name for Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (GAVE) — a condition in which the lining of the stomach bleeds, causing it to look like the characteristic stripes of a watermelon when viewed by Endoscopy. (It is not a large, bloated or fat stomach as some people think it is.)
|
| Watermelon Stomach can occur by itself, as a side effect of some medications, or in patients with Diffuse Systemic Scleroderma. (Also see: Scleroderma Gastrointestinal Involvement, What is Scleroderma?, Types of Scleroderma, and Systemic Sclerosis) |
| Watermelon Stomach belongs to a group of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding problems which are referred to as Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs.) Untreated, AVMs can cause chronic anemia or acute (sudden or severe) GI bleeding. AVMs can also cause vomiting of blood (hematemesis) or dark, tarry stools which contain blood (melena.) (Also see: Anemia) |
| Vascular Disease and Systemic Scleroderma. The vascular system is our circulatory system. It consists of all the vessels that carry blood and lymph through the body, to and from organs. Vessels include arteries, veins, and capillaries. Any condition that affects the vascular system, all of in part, is considered a vascular disease. ISN. |
|
|
| Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (GAVE) and Its Clinical Correlates in Patients with Early Diffuse Systemic Sclerosis (Ssc) in the SCOT Trial. GAVE may represent part of the spectrum of the vasculopathy in SSc. Journal of Rheumatology. 02/15/2013. (Also see: Scleroderma Clinical Trials) |
Diagnosis |
Photo of Watermelon Stomach
As seen by endoscopy.
© ISN Photo Repository.
Diagnosis of Watermelon Stomach (GAVE) is most often made by Endoscopy. Often, AVMs aren't seen during selective angiography, endoscopic biopsy, or during surgery.
They show up better during endoscopy because there's better blood flow to the stomach then than there is when a patient is under anesthesia and such. |
| Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (GAVE) in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc): Demographics and Disease Predictors. Diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) is associated with earlier development of GAVE, as well as more severe anemia requiring more therapeutic interventions. Rapid progression of cutaneous disease may suggest earlier development of GAVE. Absence of antitopoisomerase I antibodies and presence of antibodies to RNAP III/speckled antinuclear antibody pattern may be useful to identify the subset of patients with SSc with increased risk for GAVE. Kristin M. Ingraham. J Rheum. Jan. 21, 2010. |
Treatment |
| Watermelon stomach (GAVE) is treated very successfully with endoscopic laser surgery. |
| Improvement of Severe Systemic Sclerosis-associated Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (GAVE) Following Immunosuppressive Treatment with Intravenous Cyclophosphamide. A description of 3 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with severe, transfusion-dependent GAVE refractory to laser ablation who showed remarkable clinical and endoscopic improvement following intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide (CYC) treatment. Steffan W. Schulz. (PubMed) J Rheumatol. 2009 Aug;36(8):1653-6. |
A Patient's Perspective |
| Watermelon Stomach (GAVE) discussions on Sclero Forums. ISN Sclero Forums. |
| I was told by my GI doc that he had seen a few other cases of watermelon stomach in Scleroderma patients. As it was explained to me, the blood vessels in the stomach come close to the surface and are bruised easily and leak blood. It's Telangiectasia — in the stomach. Endoscopy — with laser — does stop the bleeding. Sometimes it takes several treatments. Endoscopy is not at all painful. By Bonnie H., submitted for publication on ISN, 3/98. |
Watermelon Stomach in Associated with Other Diseases |
| Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (Watermelon Stomach) in a Patient with Sjögren's Syndrome. J Rheumatol NO. 5 MAY 2003;30:1090-2. (Also see: Sjogren's Syndrome) |
Patient/Caregiver Stories: Watermelon Stomach (GAVE) |
| D.M. Hoffe: Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma CREST) After an endoscopy it was discovered I had a Watermelon Stomach... |
| James S: Son of Watermelon Stomach Sufferer Last year, my mother was diagnosed as a celiac. Since then a number of other problems have risen to the surface... |
| Jeri-Lou: Watermelon Stomach Since then I have had nine laser surgeries, two units of blood and six iron injections, which have only managed to bring my blood count up to a 9 count... |
| Jill K: Lupus with GAVE (Watermelon Stomach) My hemotologist and GI specialists are very supportive but I am so frustrated at how little any one seems to know about GAVE disease... |
| Marian: Watermelon Stomach Now the doctors tell me I have 'watermelon stomach', a condition where the blood vessels burst and bleed and I become very anemic... |
| Nina: Fibromyalgia, Raynaud's, Limited Scleroderma/CREST That is when I found ISN! The volume of reliable, informative, trusted information that I found on this site completely overwhelmed me... |
| Ray N: Watermelon Stomach This past Friday I had two more pints of blood, making nineteen in all. I felt like King Kong from Saturday until Monday afternoon... |
| Sheena: Systemic Sclerosis with Watermelon Stomach None of my doctors could understand how all my other complaints went with the watermelon stomach, but I knew they did... |
| Sue D: Diffuse Scleroderma Pain developed in my hands, then I noticed pain in my knees, then my shoulders, down my back, elbows, hips, feet... |
| Suzy G: GAVE (Watermelon Stomach) and Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Just over six years ago I was diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), a liver disease. Since then everything else seems to be happening to my body... |
| Tui: Limited Systemic Scleroderma I am wondering whether such treatments will be ongoing? |
