Angiodysplasia of the colon

Alternative names:

intestinal arteriovenous malformations

Definition:

A condition of dilation, distortion, or thinning of blood vessels in the colon that results in intermittent loss of blood from the gastrointestinal tract.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The cause is unknown, but many affected people have a history of previous surgery for loss of blood from the gastrointestinal tract. It affects people over 50 years old most frequently, with a prevalence of about 2% of that population.