Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a capillary-type vascular malformation characterized endoscopically by red, angiomatous lesions originating in the antrum and organized either in stripes or in a diffuse pattern.~GAVE may cause chronic iron-deficiency anemia with or without the presence of overt gastrointestinal bleeding, manifested commonly by melena, may account for about 4% of the causes of non-variceal bleeding.~GAVE can be isolated or associated with systemic conditions, especially in patients with liver cirrhosis, scleroderma, chronic renal failure, and after bone marrow transplantation.~Multiple mechanisms have been proposed as the origin of its development. These have included gastric dysmotility leading to chronic mucosal trauma and subsequent fibromuscular hyperplasia and vascular ectasia or an autoimmune reaction to gastric blood vessels among the main contributing factors.~Management of GAVE-related gastrointestinal bleeding is a clinically challenging issue. In the last two decades, many therapeutic options and modalities have been applied for GAVE including medical, endoscopic, and surgical management.~Endoscopic management including different options such as cryotherapy, argon photo coagulation (APC), Neodymium-yttrium-aluminum garnet laser coagulation, radiofrequency ablation and endoscopic band ligation.~The first case using endoscopic band ligation as salvage treatment for GAVE was reported in 2006. After two sessions of EBL with a Multi-Band Ligature, hemoglobin became stable and serum ferritin normalized in 16 months of follow up.~Some studies show that management of GAVE with endoscopic band ligation superior to APC in bleeding cessation and fewer treatment sessions.
overall aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic band ligation and endoscopic argon plasma coagulation for the management of gastric antral vascular ectasia.~Secondary aims:~Study risk factors of GAVE.~Prevalence of GAVE among causes of non-variceal gastrointestinal bleeding.