Digestive angiodysplasia is an acquired superficial vascular malformation developing in the mucosa or submucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. It may present with overt gastrointestinal bleeding or chronic anemia. An effective therapeutic intervention is required to improve symptoms and limit long-term complications. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is considered the reference technique, providing a simple, rapid, precise, and reliable treatment option with minimal adverse effects and complications.The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of APC in the management of digestive angiodysplastic lesions

We conducted a retrospective study including 29 patients with digestive angiodysplasias treated with APC in the Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology and Proctology “Medicine B” at Ibn Sina Hospital, Rabat, between 2020 and November 2025.

A total of 29 cases were collected. All patients were admitted with either overt gastrointestinal bleeding or chronic anemia. A complete endoscopic evaluation was performed for each patient to determine the source of bleeding.Among the patients, 19 (65.5%) were male and 10 (34.5%) female, with an sex ratio F/M: 1.9. The mean age at diagnosis was 69 years (range 31–90).Most patients had at least one associated comorbidity, mainly cardiovascular disease in 14 cases (48.3%) and end-stage chronic kidney disease requiring hemodialysis in 2 cases (6.7%). The most common clinical presentation was overt bleeding in 26 patients (89.6%): melena in 13 cases (44.8%), hematemesis associated with melena in 5 cases (17.2%), and rectorrhagia in 8 cases (27.5%). Only 3 cases (10.3%) were diagnosed during evaluation for anemia.Lesions were located in the stomach in 8 cases (27.5%), small bowel in 4 cases (13.7%), colon in 16 cases (55.2%), and duodenum in 1 case (3.4%).Treatment consisted of argon plasma coagulation in all cases (100%). A favorable clinical and biological response after a single session was observed in 75.8% of patients.Recurrence occurred in 7 patients (24.2%), who required additional APC sessions (2 sessions), without the need for surgery.

Digestive angiodysplasias are a condition with increasing incidence and can be life-threatening due to gastrointestinal bleeding. Argon plasma coagulation is an effective treatment option, with a success rate of up to 95% after one or two sessions.