The clinical histories of 14 patients with digestive hemorrhage due to Dieulafoy disease admitted to the authors' hospital over 74 months were retrospectively analyzed. These cases represent 1.18% of the non varicose upper digestive hemorrhages (CI 95%; 0.57-1.79%). Male predominance (6:1) and advanced age (median: 67.5 years) were observed. The ingestion of potentially gastroerosive drugs, smoking and alcoholism were reported in 57, 57 and 7% of the cases, respectively. Six patients (43%) required more than one endoscopy for diagnosis. The lesion responsible for hemorrhage was found at 6 cm or less from the cardias on 11 occasions (78%). Endoscopic sclerotherapy was performed in the vessel by polidocanol at 2% (1.5-10 ml, median: 6). In 10 cases sclerotherapy was preceded by the injection of adrenaline 1/10,000 (2-11 ml, median: 5). Definitive hemostasis was achieved in 11 patients (78%) (two of these cases required further sclerotherapy); 2 patients required surgery, and one patient (7%) died. Of the 13 surviving patients, none presented relapse after follow up of 2-63 months. We can conclude that Dieulafoy disease is an infrequent but severe cause of digestive hemorrhage, being predominantly found in males over the age of 50 years. Repeated endoscopy is often required to determine diagnosis and treatment. Endoscopic sclerotherapy with polidocanol is effective and safe in this disease although surgery may be required and death may occur.