Case 11-1978

Presentation of CaseA 52-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of melena.He was well until three days earlier, when he began to experience a "queasy" sensation. On the following day he felt weak and observed that his stools were dark. Two days later he saw his physician, who admitted him to the hospital.There was a history of hypochromic anemia that required several transfusions at the age of 17 years and again at 30 years. Pyridoxine was prescribed, and anemia did not recur. One year before admission he was given allopurinol and colchicine because of gout. He . . .