Familial Massive Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Introduction  Despite intensive investigations as to the etiology of massive bleeding from the digestive tract, a considerable number of cases remain undiagnosed.Even after laparotomy, a definitive diagnosis is not made in approximately 15% of individuals.^1,2 Although the outlook is usually good in such instances,² the literature gives no further diagnostic clues in identifying those subjects whose bleeding is self-limited.The purpose of this communication is to describe 3 patients whose course might give some guidance as to future management of similar situations. These individuals all manifested the following clinical findings.

1. Onset of repeated episodes of massive bleeding from the digestive tract in the first year of life;

2. A family history of gastrointestinal bleeding;

3. Spontaneous cessation of bleeding by the age of 2 years;

4. Absence of integumentary and vascular abnormalities in other parts of the body.