Worsening of nose bleeding heralds high cardiac output state in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

ACG Clinical Guideline: Disorders of the Hepatic and Mesenteric Circulation

Disorders of the mesenteric, portal, and hepatic veins and mesenteric and hepatic arteries have important clinical consequences and may lead to acute liver failure, chronic liver disease, noncirrhotic portal hypertension, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although literature in the field of vascular liver disorders is scant, these disorders are common in clinical practice, and general practitioners, gastroenterologists, and hepatologists may benefit from expert guidance and recommendations for management of these conditions. These guidelines represent the official practice recommendations of the American College of Gastroenterology. Key concept statements based on author expert opinion and review of literature and specific recommendations based on PICO/GRADE analysis have been developed to aid in the management of vascular liver disorders. These recommendations and guidelines should be tailored to individual patients and circumstances in routine clinical practice.

The Lung in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a dominantly inherited genetic vascular disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 6,000, characterized by recurrent epistaxis, cutaneous telangiectasia, and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) that affect many organs including the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and brain. Its diagnosis is based on the Curaçao criteria, and is considered definite if at least 3 of the 4 following criteria are fulfilled: (1) spontaneous and recurrent epistaxis, (2) telangiectasia, (3) a family history, and (4) pulmonary, liver, cerebral, spinal, or gastrointestinal AVMs. The focus of this review is on delineating how HHT affects the lung.

High-Output Cardiac Failure Due to Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: A Case of an Extra-Cardiac Left to Right Shunt

High-output cardiac failure is a rare complication of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and can potentially be mistaken for other entities. We present a case of high-output cardiac failure because of large hepatic arteriovenous malformations, review the literature regarding the cardiac manifestations of the disease, and discuss the possible differential diagnoses.

Refractory high output heart failure in a patient with primary mitochondrial respiratory chain disease

A 40-year-old man who was referred to our hospital due to dyspnea was found to have high output cardiac failure on Swan-Ganz catheterization. An endomyocardial biopsy revealed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy with a vacuolar structure consistent with mitochondrial disease (MD). The patient was discharged, then readmitted for high output cardiac failure with hypotension and hyperlactacidemia. Treatment with cardiopulmonary support and hemodiafiltration gradually improved his general condition, although it resulted in ischemic necrosis of the right leg. The hyperlactacidemia completely resolved after amputation, and the high output cardiac failure has not recurred for two years. High output cardiac failure is rare in MD patients and is related to myocardial abnormalities and hyperlactacidemia.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, liver vascular malformations and cardiac consequences

BACKGROUND

HHT patients with liver vascular malformations (VMs) may develop high-output cardiac failure requiring liver transplant in few cases.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim is to show that echocardiography is a good tool to evaluate the severity of hepatic vascular malformations in HHT and can improve medical management in HHT patients.

METHODS

The study is a cross-sectional study of cardiac parameters in HHT patients with dyspnea in a single referral center. All HHT patients with dyspnea, consecutively seen at HHT reference center in Lyon between May 2007 and November 2009 were included and had hepatic vascular Ultrasound and Echocardiography. Echocardiographic measures included cardiac output (CO) and index (CI), left ventricle (LV) filling pressures, and pulmonary artery pressure. Then, patients were classified in 4 groups according to the severity: group 1 (normal values), group 2 with isolated high CI, group 3 with high CI and increased LV-filling pressures and group 4 with increased LV-filling pressures and pulmonary hypertension.

RESULTS

Fifty-two HHT-patients were analyzed. Eight patients were in group 1, 25 in group 2, 6 in group 3 and 13 in group 4. Age, NYHA class dyspnea, edema, atrial fibrillation, hepatic artery diameter, and BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) levels significantly increased from groups 1 to 4 as well as left atrial area, and presence of mitral regurgitation. Patients with associated pulmonary VMs (n=11) did not show any clinical or echocardiographic differences.

CONCLUSION

Performing echocardiography in HHT patients with dyspnea allowed us to better understand the physiological processes of high-CO failure complicating liver vascular malformations and may improve follow-up of patients and treatment decisions.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia-related epistaxis: innovations in understanding and management

BACKGROUND

Epistaxis is the most common manifestation of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), affecting approximately 90% of patients at some point during their lifetime. Bleeding is chronic and varies from mild, self-limited episodes to severe, transfusion-dependent or life-threatening epistaxis. Treatment options vary from conservative, nonsurgical management to more aggressive surgical approaches. A number of treatment options have been introduced in recent years. There is little consensus in the literature regarding treatment algorithms. The objective of this investigation was to provide a contemporary review of HHT-related epistaxis, including pathophysiology, disease manifestations, and state-of-the-art treatment modalities.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature for HHT-related epistaxis was performed using the search terms "hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia" and "epistaxis." Additional literature search regarding current recommendations for HHT evaluation and recent developments in genetic mechanisms, pathophysiology, and treatment of HHT was also performed.

RESULTS

A total of 308 articles were identified and reviewed for appropriateness of inclusion whereas 64 articles met inclusion criteria. Treatment options range from topical and hormonal therapy to more aggressive surgical modalities. Most treatment descriptions are case series, with few randomized controlled trials. A number of new and novel therapies have been introduced in recent years.

CONCLUSION

HHT is a heterogeneous disease requiring multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment. Therapeutic options for HHT-related epistaxis vary from conservative, nonsurgical measures to more aggressive surgical treatments. A graduated treatment plan is recommended. Patients present with a wide degree in variation of severity of epistaxis, and treatment is best tailored to the individual patient.

A rare cause of fatal right ventricular cardiac decompensation

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is an autosomal dominant vascular disease often manifesting with epistaxis, telangiectasia, and intraparenchymatous arteriovenous malformations. We report on the case of a 71-year-old man who was admitted to hospital due to a tricuspid valve insufficiency. During the following days, the patient developed liver and renal failure; the clinical condition worsened rapidly. Computed tomographic diagnostics revealed arteriovenous malformations in the lung and in the liver portal. Additionally, mucocutaneous telangiectasia in the mouth was found. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia was assumed; nevertheless, an effective treatment was impossible because of the patient's worse clinical state; he died a few days later. Autopsy affirmed the diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia; molecular genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous mutation in the ALK-1 gene. Despite its relatively high prevalence, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is not considered as a diagnosis as frequently as it should be, and clinicians need to be aware of the signs of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia as well as the appropriate diagnostic workup.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: an overview of diagnosis, management, and pathogenesis

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome) is a disorder of development of the vasculature characterized by telangiectases and arteriovenous malformations in specific locations. It is one of most common monogenic disorders, but affected individuals are frequently not diagnosed. The most common features of the disorder, nosebleeds, and telangiectases on the lips, hands, and oral mucosa are often quite subtle. Optimal management requires an understanding of the specific presentations of these vascular malformations, especially their locations and timing during life. Telangiectases in the nasal and gastrointestinal mucosa and brain arteriovenous malformations generally present with hemorrhage. However, complications of arteriovenous malformations in the lungs and liver are generally the consequence of blood shunting through these abnormal blood vessels, which lack a capillary bed and thus result in a direct artery-to-vein connection. Mutations in at least five genes are thought to result in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, but mutations in two genes (ENG and ACVRL1/ALK1) cause approximately 85% of cases. The frequency of arteriovenous malformations in particular organs and the occurrence of certain rare symptoms are dependent on the gene involved. Molecular genetic testing is used to establish the genetic subtype of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia in a clinically affected individual and family, and for early diagnosis to allow for appropriate screening and preventive treatment.