What are the top 5 most common symptoms of Mallory-Weiss Syndrome, a condition characterized by tears in the mucous membrane (mucosa) or submucosa of the lower end of the esophagus, where it connects to the stomach?

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Last updated: February 16, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

The top 5 most common symptoms of Mallory-Weiss Syndrome are: hematemesis (vomiting blood), melena (black, tarry stools), epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Common Symptoms

  • Hematemesis (vomiting blood) is a common presentation of Mallory-Weiss Syndrome, as seen in a case report where a patient presented with sudden haematemesis followed by melena 1.
  • Melena (black, tarry stools) is another frequent symptom, often accompanied by hematemesis 1.
  • Epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting are also common symptoms, although the evidence does not provide specific frequencies or studies to support this 1.

Treatment and Diagnosis

Patients with Mallory-Weiss Syndrome may also present with signs of hypovolemic shock, including tachycardia and hypotension. Treatment typically involves supportive care, including fluid resuscitation and administration of proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole 20mg IV every 8 hours, to reduce gastric acid production and promote healing 1. Endoscopic evaluation is often necessary to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding 1.

From the Research

Symptoms of Mallory-Weiss Syndrome

The top 5 most common symptoms of Mallory-Weiss Syndrome are:

  • Hematemesis (vomiting blood) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
  • Melena (black, tarry stools) 2
  • Retching 2
  • Vomiting 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
  • Abdominal pain or discomfort is not explicitly mentioned in the provided studies as a common symptom, however, nausea is implied as a cause of increased abdominal pressure leading to tears 3, 4

Clinical Presentation

The clinical presentation of Mallory-Weiss Syndrome typically involves a history of repeated bouts of retching and/or vomiting followed by the sudden onset of hematemesis or melena 2. The severity of hemorrhage can vary from mild to severe 2.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis is usually confirmed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, which shows a longitudinal mucosal tear at the esophagogastric junction 2, 3, 5, 6. Treatment may involve endoscopic hemostatic techniques, such as heater probe thermocoagulation or hemoclipping, as well as medical management with proton pump inhibitors and antiemetics 3, 6.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

[Mallory-Weiss syndrome].

Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine, 1998

Research

Mallory-Weiss syndrome from giant gastric trichobezoar: A case report.

World journal of gastrointestinal surgery, 2023

Research

Mallory-Weiss syndrome: clinical and endoscopic characteristics.

European journal of internal medicine, 2012

Research

[Mallory-Weiss syndrome: diagnosis and treatment].

Presse medicale (Paris, France : 1983), 2010

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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