Improvement of iron-deficiency anemia resulting from gastric antral vascular ectasia in patients with systemic sclerosis: cyclophosphamide versus argon plasma coagulation

Background Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by multisystem affection that could involve the gastrointestinal tract in the form of gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) that might cause iron-deficiency anemia. Objective Evaluation of the outcome and the experience of management of iron deficiency anemia resulting from GAVE in patients with scleroderma using cyclophosphamide therapy compared with argon plasma coagulation (APC). Patients and methods This study was conducted over a 2-year period from February 2015 to February 2017. Scleroderma patients with GAVE and iron deficiency anemia were treated with cyclophosphamide (group I) others with APC application to areas with mucosal vascular lesions (group II). Results In total, 14 scleroderma patients with iron deficiency anemia resulting from associated GAVE were enrolled into two groups: group I included seven patients who were treated with cyclophosphamide infusion and group II were exposed to APC in sessions. Patients were followed up at 3 and 6 months; the endpoint was a complete response with improved anemia [hemoglobin (HB) and blood indices], and it was achieved in both groups as we found in group I patients there was a highly significant improvement ( P