Melena causes

Melena Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Melena from Other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
X Ray
CT
MRI
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Melena causes On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Melena causes All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Melena causes
CDC on Melena causes
Melena causes in the news
Blogs on Melena causes
Directions to Hospitals Treating Melena
Risk calculators and risk factors for Melena causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

The most common cause of melena is peptic ulcer disease. Any other cause of bleeding from the upper gastro-intestinal tract, or even the ascending colon, can also cause melena. Melena may also be a sign of drug overdose if a patient is taking anti-coagulants, such as warfarin. A less serious, self-limiting case of melena can occur in newborns two to three days after delivery, due to swallowed maternal blood.

Causes

The upper part of the GI tract will usually cause black stools due to:

• Abnormal blood vessels (vascular malformation)
• A tear in the esophagus from violent vomiting (Mallory-Weiss tear)
• Bleeding stomach or duodenal ulcer
• Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
• Lack of proper blood flow to the intestines (bowel ischemia)
• Trauma or foreign body
• Widened, overgrown veins (called varices) in the esophagus and stomach