MALLORY-WEISS SYNDROME IN A PATIENT WITH HEMOPHILIA-A AND CHRONIC LIVER-DISEASE

Eighty percent of hemophiliacs exposed to plasma products are seroposi tive to hepatitis B and an even higher percentage are seropositive to hepatitis C, Post-transfusion hepatitis is followed by cirrhosis in up to 25% of the cases, In the wake of portal hypertension, the developm ent of oesophageal varices entails the risk of life-threatening hemorr hage. We report on a patient,vith moderate hemophilia A (factor VIII:C 4-11%), who suffered from massive hematemesis, melaena and evolving s hock after excessive alcohol ingestion, The diagnosis of Mallory-Weiss syndrome and the differential diagnosis of bleeding oesophageal varic es as well as prognostic consequences are discussed.