Heyde described a syndrome seen in some patients with severe aortic stenosis.
Features of Heyde syndrome:
(1) severe aortic stenosis, usually senile calcific
(2) acquired von Willebrand syndrome (Type 2A), due to destruction of large vWF multimers
(3) angiodysplasia with colonic bleeding, which may be severe
(4) iron-deficiency anemia secondary to gastrointestinal bleeding
where:
• Microemboli from the valvular disease might contribute to the bowel disorder.
Replacement of the aortic valve resolves the coagulopathy and the anemia. If the coagulopathy is important in the causation of the GI bleeding then reversal of the coagulopathy often reduces the severity of the gastrointestinal blood loss.
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