Massive Esophageal Variceal Bleeding as a Rare Complication of Sickle Cell Anemia

ACG Case Rep J. 2016 Jan 20;3(2):92-4. doi: 10.14309/crj.2016.10. eCollection 2016 Jan.

Abstract

A 24-year-old man with sickle cell anemia presented with fatigue, dark stool, and coffee ground emesis. He was found to have large esophageal varices and experienced massive variceal hemorrhage in the hospital. The varices were caused by diffuse splanchnic venous thrombosis, and his only risk factor for hypercoagulability was sickle cell anemia. Splanchnic venous thrombosis due to sickle cell anemia is exceedingly rare.

Publication types

  • Case Reports