Recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding due to vascular malformations in a girl with Turner syndrome
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Turner syndrome (TS) is a genetic defect accompanied by gonadal dysgenesis, short stature, characteristic dysmorphic features, congenital heart and kidneys defects, and other diseases. One of the less common are vascular malformations in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They are asymptomatic in some patients, but can also cause GI bleeding. We present a description of a 12-year-old patient with TS and vascular malformations in the GI tract who was admitted to the hospital because of recurrent microcytic anemia. At the age of 15, she started estrogen therapy due to hypogonadism. Since then, the bleeding has stopped and the number of malformations on follow-up colonoscopy has been significantly decreased. In TS patients with iron deficiency anemia, the differential diagnostics should include vascular defects in the GI. There are evidences, that estrogen therapy may limit the number of lesions and reduce the risk of bleeding.
Authors: Ewa Witkowska-Krawczak, Anna Zapolska, Aleksandra Banaszkiewicz, Anna Kucharska
Institution: Medical University of Warsaw
Language: English
Subfield: Gastroenterology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3186741009