Evidence that thalidomide is effective in recurrent bleeding from watermelon stomach associated with liver cirrhosis

Introduction: Thalidomide has been shown to be effective in preventing bleeding from gastrointestinal vascular malformations not responding to endoscopic therapy. However, the efficacy of thalidomide in patients with watermelon stomach associated with liver cirrhosis has not yet been studied adequately. Case report: An 88-year-old woman was admitted to hospital for evaluation of recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding on August 31st, 2012. There was a history of hypertension and osteoporosis and some years before a cryptogenic liver cirrhosis had been diagnosed. Gastroscopy revealed small esophageal varices without…