A RARE CAUSE OF UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING: ACUTE ESOPHAGEAL NECROSIS.

Abstract

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) also known as “black esophagus” is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The prevalence of AEN has ranged from 0.11% to 0.28% in endoscopic series (Ben Soussan et al., 2002; Bonaldi, Sala, Mariani, Fratus, & Novellino, 2017; Julian Gomez et al., 2008). It is characterized by a black necrotic esophagus on endoscopy. Although the etiology of AEN is unclear, it is believed that ischemic injury and impaired mucosal barrier are the main factors in pathogenesis. Acute esophageal necrosis is related to poor general health status and comorbid diseases such as diabetes mellitus and gastric outlet obstruction (Ben Soussan et al., 2002; Gurvits, 2010; Lahbabi, Ibrahimi, & Aqodad, 2013). Here, we report a case presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and diagnosed as AEN.