Causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in adults - UpToDate
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common medical condition that results in substantial morbidity, mortality, and medical care cost. It commonly presents with hematemesis (vomiting of blood or coffee ground-like material) and/or melena (black, tarry stools). In 5 to 10 percent of patients with severe UGIB, it may present as hematochezia. This topic will review the different causes of UGIB. The approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with UGIB, as well as more detailed discussions of some of the specific causes of UGIB, are discussed separately in the following sections: ● (See "Approach to acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in adults".) ● (See "Peptic ulcer disease: Clinical manifestations and diagnosis".) ● (See "Overview of the treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers".) ● (See "Overview of the management of patients with variceal bleeding".) ● (See "Portal hypertensive gastropathy".) ● (See "Angiodysplasia of the gastrointestinal tract".) ● (See "Mallory-Weiss sy
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