A retrospective cohort study on European Reference Network for Rare Vascular Diseases 5 outcome measures for Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia in Denmark

Pharmacogenomic Considerations for Anticoagulant Prescription in Patients with Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular dysplasia that commonly results in bleeding but with frequent indications for therapeutic anticoagulation. Our aims were to advance the understanding of drug-specific intolerance and evaluate if there was an indication for pharmacogenomic testing. Genes encoding proteins involved in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of warfarin, heparin, and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) apixaban, rivaroxaban, edoxaban, and dabigatran were identified and examined. Linkage disequilibrium with HHT genes was excluded, before variants within these genes were examined following whole genome sequencing of general and HHT populations. The 44 genes identified included 5/17 actionable pharmacogenes with guidelines. The 76,156 participants in the Genome Aggregation Database v3.1.2 had 28,446 variants, including 9668 missense substitutions and 1076 predicted loss-of-function (frameshift, nonsense, and consensus splice site) variants, i.e., approximately 1 in 7.9 individuals had a missense substitution, and 1 in 71 had a loss-of-function variant. Focusing on the 17 genes relevant to usually preferred DOACs, similar variant profiles were identified in HHT patients. With HHT patients at particular risk of haemorrhage when undergoing anticoagulant treatment, we explore how pre-emptive pharmacogenomic testing, alongside HHT gene testing, may prove beneficial in reducing the risk of bleeding and conclude that HHT patients are well placed to be at the vanguard of personalised prescribing.

Oral manifestations and dental considerations of patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

We examined the range, nature, and extent of research conducted regarding the oral and dental implications of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) to identify gaps in the research and knowledge of the field.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a scoping review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews and 2017 Guidance for the Conduct of Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Reviews. We searched the MEDLINE and Web of Science databases for all full-text articles published in English from December 1946 to October 2022.

RESULTS

We identified 103 articles describing oral and dental considerations of patients with HHT, primarily case reports. Most reported oral telangiectasias of the tongue, lips, and palate. Many reported management of bleeding and the use or recommendation of prophylactic antibiotics before dental procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral telangiectasias are commonly found in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, and dental professionals may be the first to diagnose it in their patients. Early detection and diagnosis are important to prevent potentially fatal outcomes, and prophylactic antibiotics before procedures may be warranted.

Prevalence and risk factors for bleeding in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: a National Inpatient Sample study

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a common bleeding disorder, but little is known regarding prevalence and risk factors for bleeding. Adult discharges with HHT and bleeding were identified by International Classification of Disease, 10th edition (ICD-10) codes in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2016-2018. Prevalence estimates were weighted using NIS discharge-level weights to reflect national estimates. Risk factors for bleeding were determined by weighted multivariable logistic regression. Among 18 170 849 discharges, 2528 (0.01%) had HHT, of whom 648 (25.6%) had bleeding. Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) (31.9% vs 1.3%), angiodysplasia (23.5% vs 2.3%), telangiectasia (2.3% vs 0.2%), and epistaxis (17.9% vs 0.6%) were more common in HHT than in non-HHT patients (non-HHT), each P < .001. In contrast, menstrual (HMB) and postpartum bleeding (PPH) were less common in reproductive-age HHT than non-HHT, each P < .001. Anemia associated with iron deficiency (IDA), was equally common in HHT with or without bleeding (15.7% vs 16.0%), but more common than in non-HHT (7.5%), P < .001. Comorbidities, including gastroesophageal reflux (25.9% vs 20.0%) and cirrhosis (10.0% vs 3.6%) were greater in HHT than non-HHT, each P < .001. In multivariable logistic regression, peptic ulcer disease (OR, 8.86; P < .001), portal vein thrombosis (OR, 3.68; P = .006), and hepatitis C, (OR, 2.13; P = .017) were significantly associated with bleeding in HHT. In conclusion, AVM and angiodysplasia are more common and HMB and PPH less common in patients in those with HHT than non-HHT. IDA deficiency is as common in HHT with and without bleeding, suggesting ongoing blood loss and need for universal iron screening.