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Case Report
Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 28, 2026; 32(44): 121710
Published online Nov 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.121710
Table 1 Pharmacologic provocation for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding
Ref.
Provocative drugs
Provocation method
Bleeding location
Positive rate
Complications
Rösch et al[8], 1982Heparin, streptokinase, tolazolineMesenteric angiographyLGIB3/3 (100%)1 case with massive haemorrhage
Rösch et al[20], 1986Heparin, streptokinase, tolazolineMesenteric angiographyLGIB41/63 (65%)No
Kariya et al[22], 2020Urokinase, nicardipine, heparin, alprostadil, isosorbideMesenteric angiographyLGIB6/12 (50%)No
Kim et al[43], 2010Heparin, nitroglycerin, tolazoline, papaverine, tPAMesenteric angiographyLGIB11/36 (30.1%)No
Ryan et al[39], 2001Heparin, tolazoline, tPAMesenteric angiographyLGIB6/17 (37.5%)No
Miller et al[33], 1999UrokinaseAngiographyGIB0/1 (0%)No
Bloomfeld et al[28], 2000Tolazoline, heparin, urokinaseMesenteric angiographyLGIB2/7 (29%)No
An et al[26], 2025Heparin, nitroglycerin, tPAMesenteric angiographyLGIB14/40 (35%)No
Benvenuti et al[40], 2025tPAMesenteric angiographyLGIB33/119 (27.7%)No
Maruhashi et al[41], 2024Carbon dioxideMesenteric angiographyLGIB35/80 (43.8%)Vomiting
Werner et al[23], 2022NorepinephrineAngiographyLGIB3/4 (75%)1 case mesenteric ischemia after embolization
Johnston et al[7], 2007Heparin, tPAAngiographyLGIB1/1 (100%)No
Remzi et al[17], 2003HeparinAngiographyLGIB1/1 (100%)No
Shetzline et al[31], 2000Heparin, priscolineAngiographyGIB1/1 (100%)No
Kokoroskos et al[6], 2020Heparin, nitroglycerin, tPAAngiographyGIB7/23 (30%)No
Meade et al[32], 2020HeparinAngiographyUGIB1/1 (100%)No
Widlus et al[38], 2007tPAAngiographyLGIB8/9 (89%)No
Thiry et al[19], 2022Heparin, nitroglycerin, tPAAngiographyLGIB16/36 (44%)No
Wu et al[24], 2013tPAAngiographyLGIB1/1 (100%)No
Nozawa et al[30], 2022HeparinAngiographyLGIB2/2 (100%)No
Drezdzon et al[29], 2022Heparin/vasodilatorsAngiographyLGIB0/1 (0%)No
Mernagh et al[36], 2001Heparin, papaverineAngiographyGIB6/12 (50%)No
Lee et al[42], 2012HeparinAngiographyGIB1/2 (50%)1 case with massive hematemesis
Glickerman et al[34], 1988Heparin, tolazoline, urokinaseAngiographyLGIB1/1 (100%)No
St George et al[35], 1991Heparin, vasodilators, urokinaseAngiographyLGIB0/3 (0%)No
Koval et al[37], 1987Heparin, tolazoline, streptokinaseMesenteric angiographyLGIB8/10 (80%)1 case arterial puncture site hematoma; 1 case massive haemorrhage
Brunnler et al[27], 2008HeparinScintigraphyLGIB9/13 (69%)No
Malden et al[21], 1998Heparin, urokinaseScintigraphyLGIB7/10 (70%)No
Kumar et al[12], 2007HeparinColonoscopyLGIB1/1 (100%)No
Berkelhammer et al[9], 2000HeparinColonoscopyLGIB1/1 (100%)No
Wright et al[10], 2004HeparinColonoscopyGIB1/1 (100%)No
Rieder et al[11], 2006HeparinColonoscopyGIB2/2 (100%)No
Raines et al[4], 2017Heparin, clopidogrel, rivaroxabanEnteroscopy/colonoscopyGIB15/27 (56%)No


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