Angiodysplasias are abnormal blood vessels in the gastrointestinal tract that often cause anemia, especially in older adults with diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease. With an aging population, the demand for effective treatments is growing. This dissertation shows that somatostatin analogs significantly reduce the need for blood transfusions and improve patient well-being, particularly for lesions in the small and large intestines. Aortic valve replacement in patients with Heyde’s syndrome, where angiodysplasias occur alongside a narrowed aortic valve, leads to a long-lasting reduction in gastrointestinal bleeding and restoration of the associated bleeding disorder, von Willebrand disease. These findings give clinicians evidence-based guidance for treatment decisions and improve understanding of the causes of angiodysplasias. This knowledge paves the way for targeted, personalized therapies and helps decrease hospitalizations and transfusions.
Lia Goltstein (1995) obtained her Medical degree from Radboud University in 2019 and immediately started as a physician-researcher at the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Radboud university medical center. She subsequently worked as a junior doctor at Radboud university medical center and Rijnstate, and is currently a resident in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Jeroen Bosch Hospital.