"Black Esophagus" or Gurvits Syndrome: A Rare Cause of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Black esophagus, also called Gurvits syndrome or acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), is a rare, life-threatening condition characterized by necrosis of the esophageal mucosa. We present a 36-year-old man who presented with hematemesis and was admitted for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) management. He then had a further episode of hematemesis with hemodynamic instability. The esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed ulcerative, necrotizing, circumferential esophagitis in the middle and distal third of the esophagus. The patient was treated with intravenous fluid resuscitation, proton pump inhibitors, empiric antibiotics, and antifungals. Hematemesis in DKA should raise suspicion for black esophagus. Prompt detection of AEN allows for early management and thus reduces mortality and associated complications such as perforations and strictures.