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4th March 2024
A 38-year-old male presents to the acute medical unit with melaena
A 38-year-old male presents to the acute medical unit with melaena. This would be his fourth presentation to the acute medical unit with a similar problem in the past 12 months. Endoscopy revealed multiple angiodysplasia lesions within the stomach and duodenum. Further examination also showed multiple small purplish spots along his lips and tongue and thin red lines extending from a central red punctum along his lips, tongue and fingernail beds.
His blood tests were as follows:
| Blood test | Results | Normal range |
|---|---|---|
| Haemoglobin | 85 | 130-180 g/L |
| White cell count | 7.5 | 3.5 – 11.0 x10⁹/L |
| Platelets | 185 | 150-400 x10⁹/L |
The coagulation screen was normal.
He denies any other past medical history but notes that his mother had issues with recurrent nose bleeds. His maternal grandfather passed away at the age of 46 following a stroke.
What is the likely underlying diagnosis?
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