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Octreotide in the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by angiodysplasia in two patients with von Willebrand's disease
Author(s) -
Bowers Margaret,
McNulty Orla,
Mayne Elizabeth
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2000.01897.x
Subject(s) - angiodysplasia , cryoprecipitate , medicine , octreotide , von willebrand factor , von willebrand disease , gastrointestinal bleeding , gastroenterology , hemostasis , somatostatin , endocrinology , fibrinogen , platelet
Two cases of von Willebrand's disease and angiodysplasia with intractable gastrointestinal bleeding are presented. Replacement therapy with cryoprecipitate and variable purity von Willebrand factor (VWF) was ineffective, as were other treatments including steroids, immunoglobulin and hormonal replacement. Both patients required massive blood transfusion and product support. The efficacy of somatostatin and an analogue is described. In one patient, we observed a rise in von Willebrand factor activity after octreotide infusion.