Digestive Bleeding Revealing Aortic Valve Stenosis: Heyde’s Syndrome

Abstract

Heyde’s syndrome is an under reported systemic disease of gastrointestinal and cardiac manifestation in older adults. It is characterized by a triad of aortic stenosis, angiodysplasia with bleeding and acquired von Willebrand syndrome. Heyde’s syndrome is a treatable condition in most cases, especially in the current era of evolution in interventional cardiology and gastroenterology. Newer endoscopic technologies may prove beneficial. Aortic valve replacement is claimed to minimize or even stop the bleeding in such patients. The aim of our review article is to summarize the basic pathophysiology, diagnostics and management of Heyde’s syndrome.