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Vol. 79. Issue 2.
Pages 151-152 (April - June 2014)
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Vol. 79. Issue 2.
Pages 151-152 (April - June 2014)
Scientific letter
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An infrequent cause of iron-deficiency anemia: Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome
Una causa infrecuente de anemia ferropénica: blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome
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A. Wonaga, J.L. Fernández
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fernandezerro@gmail.com

Corresponding author at: Centro Integral de Gastroenterología, Ecuador 1481, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (C1425EUG), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tel.: and fax: +5411 8255779.
, A. Barsanti, L.A. Viola
Servicio de Gastroenterología y Endoscopia Digestiva, Centro Integral de Gastroenterología, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Iron-deficiency anemia can be caused by occult bleeding of the digestive tract secondary to diverse lesions of different prevalence and severity.1 Among them are those of vascular origin, such as blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS), also known as Bean syndrome, initially described by Gascoyen in 1860. In 1958 Bean associated the lesions of the skin with those of the gastrointestinal tract, and since then the syndrome bears his name.2

A 45-year-old woman was referred to our hospital center to study her iron-deficiency anemia. Her personal and family medical histories were unremarkable. Hematocrit was 27%, hemoglobin 9.0g/dl, white blood cell count 7,500/mm3, serum iron 60μg/dl, coagulogram was normal, and serology for celiac disease was negative. The medical history was taken and the patient did not complain of symptoms or findings that could be linked to anemia or gastrointestinal bleeding. The physical examination revealed the presence of vascular lesions on the feet and abdomen (Fig. 1).

Figure 1.

Rounded bluish lesions deforming a foot.

(0.09MB).

The lesions were round, bluish, rubbery, and nonpainful and had a diameter that varied from 1 to 3cm. One of the lesions deformed a foot. Upper and lower gastrointestinal video endoscopy was performed, displaying a lesion on the anterior surface of the pyloric antrum that measured 2cm in diameter; it was bluish and rounded and had a soft consistency (Fig. 2A).

Figure 2.

Endoscopic lesions. A) The image of a rounded, bluish, soft and depressible lesion measuring 2cm in diameter on the anterior surface of the antrum. B) Similar lesions on the colon.

(0.14MB).

Three similar lesions were observed on the colon (Fig. 2B). There were no signs of bleeding and the abdominal ultrasound was normal. Given the cutaneous and gastrointestinal lesions, BRBNS was diagnosed and it was assumed to be responsible for the anemia, once urologic and gynecologic bleeding was ruled out. The patient agreed with the recommendation not to evaluate the small bowel, given that she did not present with symptoms. Oral iron replacement was begun and her anemia was corrected. The patient is presently in stable condition.

BRBNS is a rare syndrome that combines the presence of cutaneous and visceral venous malformations that are typically small, circumscribed, and multifocal. Even though the disease appears sporadically in the majority of reported cases, some have a dominant autosomal component related to a mutation of chromosome 9p.3 The epidemiology and natural history of BRBNS is not well known. Due to its rareness, emphasized by all authors, there are no figures related to prevalence, the incidence of bleeding, or mortality. There are thought to be about 150 communicated cases worldwide.4 The digestive tract is frequently compromised by multiple papilliform bluish lesions. The small bowel is the most common location, followed by the colon, but there can also be lesions at the mouth of the anus.3 In general, they are present from birth and their appearance in adulthood is less likely.2,3 The majority of the cases manifest as occult bleeding. In the largest case series to date, Fishman et al. conducted their study on 32 patients from a referral center; 22 of them presented with minimal bleeding and 10 had severe bleeding.2 Rare complications such as intussusception, volvulus, infarct, and obstruction have been reported.5 The cutaneous lesions are generally small, measuring less than 2cm; their color ranges from blue to purple and they rarely bleed spontaneously. Other uncommon locations are: the brain, eyes, oral cavity, thyroid, lungs, pericardium, pleura, spleen, liver, kidneys, bladder, and muscle and skeletal system.4,6 The extradigestive and extracutaneous lesions can produce epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematuria, or metrorrhagia. There can be joint pain when the muscle and skeletal system is involved.7 Physical examination can reveal skin lesions or joint deformities. From the histopathologic perspective, cutaneous lesions show vessels with ectasia that are filled with blood and covered by a single layer of endothelial cells surrounded by thin connective tissue.7 Upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies reveal gastrointestinal lesions and the evaluation can be completed with capsule endoscopy or enhanced radiologic studies for detecting small bowel lesions.8 Ultrasound, nuclear magnetic resonance, computed tomography, and angiography can identify visceral involvement in other locations.3 The morbidity and mortality of BRBNS depends on the extent of visceral involvement and treatment is contingent on the magnitude of the symptoms.7 More severe cases of anemia can require blood transfusions. Different endoscopic treatments have been described, such as resection, sclerotherapy, band ligature, and coagulation. Although reduced bleeding has been reported, recurrence appears to be habitual.3,7 The following have been used experimentally: corticoids, interferon, octreotide, antifibrinolytics, gamma globulin, and vincristine. The results are disparate and do not provide conclusive evidence.9 The majority of authors recommend conservative treatment, reserving endoscopic or surgical therapy for severe hemorrhages or for symptoms of occlusion and perforation.2

In conclusion, we underline the importance of an integral examination of the patient in order to detect the cutaneous lesions that lead to the diagnosis. We also point out the necessity of performing endoscopic studies for identifying the source of bleeding. We suggest a conservative therapeutic approach to the degree that the mildness of the anemia and the response to iron replacement permit.

Financial disclosure

No financial support was received in relation to this article.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

References
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G.R. Zuckerman, C. Prakash, M.P. Askin, et al.
AGA technical review on the evaluation and management of occult and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.
Gastroenterology, 118 (2000), pp. 201-221
[2]
S.J. Fishman, C.J. Smithers, J. Folkman, et al.
Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome. Surgical erradication of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Ann Surg, 241 (2005), pp. 523-528
[3]
A. Bottero, L. Benedetti, L. Sasson.
Diagnóstico y tratamiento de hemorragia digestiva en síndrome de Bean (blue rubber-bleb nevus syndrome).
Acta Gastroenterol Latinoam, 38 (2008), pp. 278-283
[4]
Gainers M. Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome. DermatologyReview.com Journal 2006 [accessed Jun 2006]. Available from: www.dermatologyreview.org/journal/blue.pdf
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C. Lee, D. Debnath, T. Whitburn, et al.
Synchronous multiple small bowel intussusceptions in an adult with blue rubber bleb naevus syndrome: Report of a case and review of literature.
World J Emerg Surg, 3 (2008), pp. 3
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D. Dobru, N. Seuchea, M. Dorin, et al.
Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome: Case report and literature review.
Rom J Gastroenterol, 13 (2004), pp. 237-240
[8]
L. Lopes, J. Ramada, M. Certo.
Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome: Capsule endoscopy in a patient with GI bleeding.
Gastrointest Endosc, 65 (2007), pp. 151-152
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M.D. Boente, M.R. Cordisco, M.D. Frontini, et al.
Blue rubber bleb nevus (Bean syndrome): Evolution of four cases and clinical response to pharmacologic agents.
Pediatr Dermatol, 16 (1999), pp. 222-227

Please cite this article as: Wonaga A, Fernández JL, Barsanti A, Viola LA. Una causa infrecuente de anemia ferropénica: blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome. Revista de Gastroenterología de México. 2014;79:151–152.

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