BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic findings of bleeding gastric and esophageal varices were compared. METHODOLOGY: Seventy patients with first bleeding esophagogastric varices without prior treatments were treated: 47 patients had bleeding esophageal varices (EV group), 11 patients had bleeding cardiac varices (CV group), and 12 patients had bleeding cardiofundic or fundic varices (FV group). RESULTS: The red color sign was more common in the EV group (45 patients) than in the CV group (4 patients) or FV group (no patients) (P < 0.0001); Mucosal erosion over the varices at the site of bleeding was more common in the CV group (9 patients, P < 0.0005) and FV group (12 patients, P < 0.0001) than in the EV group (12 patients). An ulcer at the bleeding point was more common in the CV group (7 patients, P < 0.01) and FV group (10 patients, P < 0.0001) than in the EV group (11 patients). Gastric ulcer was more common in the CV group (7 patients, P < 0.05) and FV group (10 patients, P < 0.001) than in the EV group (14 patients). Erosive gastritis was more frequent in the FV group (12 patients, P < 0.02) than in the EV group (30 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Violation of the mucosa barrier overlying gastric varices, especially cardiofundic or fundic varices, might be an important step leading to variceal hemorrhage.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic findings of bleeding gastric and esophageal varices were compared. METHODOLOGY: Seventy patients with first bleeding esophagogastric varices without prior treatments were treated: 47 patients had bleeding esophageal varices (EV group), 11 patients had bleeding cardiac varices (CV group), and 12 patients had bleeding cardiofundic or fundic varices (FV group). RESULTS: The red color sign was more common in the EV group (45 patients) than in the CV group (4 patients) or FV group (no patients) (P < 0.0001); Mucosal erosion over the varices at the site of bleeding was more common in the CV group (9 patients, P < 0.0005) and FV group (12 patients, P < 0.0001) than in the EV group (12 patients). An ulcer at the bleeding point was more common in the CV group (7 patients, P < 0.01) and FV group (10 patients, P < 0.0001) than in the EV group (11 patients). Gastric ulcer was more common in the CV group (7 patients, P < 0.05) and FV group (10 patients, P < 0.001) than in the EV group (14 patients). Erosive gastritis was more frequent in the FV group (12 patients, P < 0.02) than in the EV group (30 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Violation of the mucosa barrier overlying gastric varices, especially cardiofundic or fundic varices, might be an important step leading to variceal hemorrhage.