High risk of ischaemic stroke amongst patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disease with fragile blood vessels and vascular malformations, potentially causing neurological manifestations, including stroke and cerebral abscesses. The study aimed to investigate neurological manifestations in the Danish HHT database, focusing on pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) as a risk factor for cerebral events.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of the Danish HHT database was conducted, cross-referencing neurological outcomes with the Danish Apoplexy Register for accuracy. Patients were stratified by HHT type. Primary outcomes included ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack and cerebral haemorrhage. Secondary outcomes comprised age, age at HHT diagnosis, age at cerebral ischaemic event, and PAVM and cerebral arteriovenous malformation status.

RESULTS

Six hundred and sixty-four HHT patients were included. PAVM was diagnosed in 54% of patients, with higher prevalence in HHT type 1 (70%) compared to HHT type 2 (34%) and juvenile polyposis HHT (66%). Ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack occurred in 12.5%, with a higher risk associated with macroscopic PAVM. Logistic regression showed a nearly 10 times increased risk of ischaemic stroke with macroscopic PAVM. Cerebral abscesses occurred in 3.2% of patients, all with macroscopic PAVM. Incomplete PAVM closure increased cerebral abscess risk.

CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence of neurological manifestations and vascular events in HHT patients. The presence of PAVM was associated with an increased risk of ischaemic stroke, highlighting the importance of early screening and intervention. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive management strategies targeting both vascular and neurological complications in HHT patients, especially regarding secondary stroke prevention.

Prevalence and Predictors of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia and Capillary-Malformation Arteriovenous Malformation Syndrome Among Children with Neurovascular Malformations

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence and predictors of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and capillary-malformation arteriovenous malformation (CM-AVM) syndrome among children with no prior personal or family history of these diseases who presented with an arteriovenous shunt lesion.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective chart review was completed on patients aged 0 through 21 years with arteriovenous shunt lesions evaluated at our Cerebrovascular Center. Diagnosis of definite or suspected HHT or CM-AVM was based on clinical features and genetic testing. Associations between final diagnosis and type and number of lesions, epistaxis, telangiectasias, CM, and pulmonary AVMs were assessed.

RESULTS

Eighty-nine patients were included. Thirteen (14.6%) had definite HHT, 11 (12.4%) suspected HHT, and 4 (4.5%) definite CM-AVM. Having ≥2 episodes of epistaxis/year and ≥ 2 sites with telangiectasias were each associated with definite HHT (P < .001). Having ≥ 2 CM was associated with definite CM-AVM (P < .001). Pulmonary AVM was associated with increased odds of having definite HHT (OR = 6.3, 95% CI: 1.2-33.4). Multiple lesions (OR = 24.5, 95% CI: 4.5-134.8) and arteriovenous fistulas (OR = 6.2, 95% CI: 1.9-20.3) each increased the likelihood of having definite HHT or CM-AVM. Genetic testing was positive in 31% of patients tested.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend that children with neurovascular shunt lesions be offered genetic testing and undergo further evaluation for HHT and CM-AVM. Awareness and early diagnosis of these conditions is a critical step toward improving long-term outcomes and preventing disease-associated complications.

Health-Related Quality of Life Outcome Measures in Individuals With Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Studies evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) have expanded rapidly in the past decade. These studies have evaluated QOL aspects ranging from the general QOL for patients living with HHT to intervention-specific outcomes. However, few tools have been fully validated across the spectrum of disease manifestations and interventions in HHT.

OBJECTIVE

In this scoping review, we aim to map the literature on HHT-QOL metrics, identify gaps, inform future QOL research, and facilitate future metric development.

METHODS

We analyzed articles in English that assessed at least 1 measure of general HRQOL, including physical health, mental health, social health, or intervention-specific QOL in patients with HHT. Searches across 2 bibliographic databases (PubMed and Scopus) yielded 186 articles after duplicates were removed. Sixty-three studies met eligibility criteria: 22 prospective studies (34.9%), 20 retrospective studies (31.7%), 12 cross-sectional studies (17.5%), 6 randomized controlled trials or secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trials (9.5%), 2 qualitative studies (3.2%), and 1 case-control study (1.6%). Two additional studies-1 prospective and 1 cross-sectional study-were identified at the October 2022 14th International HHT Conference and included, making a total of 65 studies.

RESULTS

The 65 eligible studies used 30 QOL instruments. Twenty studies characterized baseline HRQOL, and 45 studies evaluated QOL before and after treatment. Of those 45 studies, 37 evaluated HRQOL before and after therapies targeting epistaxis and nasal symptoms, 4 targeted therapies for liver arteriovenous malformations and high-output heart failure, 3 evaluated therapies for both epistaxis and gastrointestinal bleeding, and 1 evaluated treatment targeting gastrointestinal bleeding alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Comparison of results across studies remains challenging given the heterogeneity in outcomes measures. Further development of HHT-specific patient-reported outcomes instruments that capture the global illness experience of HHT is needed.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Intracranial Aneurysms in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The association between hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and intracranial aneurysms remains controversial. This study evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of intracranial aneurysms in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia with brain vascular malformations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 2007 and 2021, patients enrolled in the Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium with definite hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, the presence of brain vascular malformations, and available angiographic studies of the brain were retrospectively reviewed. Angiographic features of intracranial aneurysms and their relationship to coexisting brain vascular malformations were analyzed. We also examined the association between baseline clinical features and the presence of intracranial aneurysms.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty patients were included. A total of 14 intracranial aneurysms were found in 9 (5%) patients, and 4 intracranial aneurysms were considered flow-related aneurysms. Patients with intracranial aneurysms were significantly older than patients without intracranial aneurysms (mean, 48.1 [SD, 18.2] years versus 33.5 [SD, 21.0] years; P = .042). If we excluded flow-related intracranial aneurysms, the prevalence of intracranial aneurysms was 3.3%. All intracranial aneurysms were in the anterior circulation, were unruptured, and had an average maximal diameter of 3.9 (SD, 1.5) mm. No intracranial aneurysms were found in pediatric patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. No statistically significant correlation was observed among other baseline demographics, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia features, and the presence of intracranial aneurysms.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in this large cohort study is comparable with that in the general population and might be increased slightly due to hemodynamic factors associated with shunting brain vascular malformations.

Exploring effects of atmospheric conditions in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

BACKGROUND

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by recurrent epistaxis, telangiectasias, and visceral arteriovenous malformations. Individuals with HHT often identify low humidity and temperature as detrimental to epistaxis severity. We set out to assess the relationship between humidity and temperature on epistaxis severity in patients with HHT.

METHODS

Retrospective cross-sectional study at an academic hospital with an HHT center between July 1, 2014 and January 1, 2022. The primary outcome of this study was ESS. Pearson correlation analyses and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to test the association between weather variables and epistaxis severity scre (ESS). Results were reported as coefficient and 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

Four hundred twenty-nine patients were included in the analysis. Through a Pearson correlation analysis, neither humidity (regression coefficient = -0.01; 95% CI, -0.006 to 0.003; p = 0.50), daily low temperature (regression coefficient = 0.01; 95% CI, -0.011 to 0.016; p = 0.72), or daily high temperature (regression coefficient = 0.01; 95% CI, -0.004 to 0.013; p = 0.32) were significantly correlated with ESS. In a multiple linear regression analysis, adjusting for both daily low temperature and humidity, medications taken, demographics, and genotype, neither daily low temperature (regression coefficient = -0.02; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.01; p = 0.14) nor humidity (regression coefficient = 0.01; 95% CI, -0.01 to 0.01; p = 0.64) were significantly associated with ESS.

CONCLUSION

We have shown in a large clinical sample that neither humidity nor temperature were strongly correlated with HHT patient epistaxis severity.

[Prevalencia de la Telangiectasia Hemorrágica Hereditaria: estudio de base poblacional en la Comunitat Valenciana (España).]

OBJECTIVE

The Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is a low prevalence disease which presents heterogeneous signs and symptoms and just few population-based epidemiological studies are available. The aims of this paper were to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of people affected by HHT in the Valencian Region (VR), to determine its prevalence and mortality rate, and to analyse the sources of recruitment and verification tests used by the Rare Diseases Information System of the VR (SIER-CV).

METHODS

Cross-sectional observational epidemiological study of HHT prevalent cases between 2010-2019 in SIER-CV was performed. The distribution of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were determined, the prevalence and mortality rates, and the sources of recruitment and verification tests used by SIER-CV were analysed. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata (version 16.1) and Microsoft Excel Office.

RESULTS

During 2010-2019, two hundred cases were identified, 55.5% were female. The mean ages were: 56.8 years at recruitment and 50.9 years at diagnosis. 48.4% of cases were diagnosed between thirty-six/sixty-four years of age. 25.5% died, with a mean age of 76.6 years, identifying statistically significant differences above the age of 64. The prevalence was 39.6/1,000,000 inhabitants and the crude mortality rate was 10.1/1,000,000 inhabitants. 95.5% of cases were recruited from the Hospital discharges database and the most frequent verification test was the clinical basis (45.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

The increasing trend in prevalence coincides with a better knowledge of HHT, which favours its detection, and also with dying at older ages. To describe the situation of HHT in the VR facilitates its health management and contributes to the establishment of the relevant health policies for the HHT. The need to promote genetic diagnosis and to incorporate the Primary Care Clinical History as a source of recruitment in the population-based registries has been shown.

Identifying racial disparities in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

BACKGROUND

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by recurrent epistaxis (nose bleeds), mucosal telangiectasias (spider veins), and arteriovenous malformations. Although HHT affects all racial groups, few studies have explored racial disparities among patients with HHT.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review of HHT patients who were seen at a single academic center between July 1, 2014 and January 1, 2022. The primary outcomes of this study were the Epistaxis Severity Score (ESS) and the presence of pulmonary, cerebral, gastrointestinal, spinal, and hepatic arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). We analyzed racial differences using t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for continuous variables, and chi-squared tests for categorical variables. We then performed multivariable linear and logistic regressions on outcomes.

RESULTS

Our review identified 35 Asian, 6 Black or African American, 72 Hispanic or Latino, and 244 White or Caucasian patients who met the inclusion criteria. Through an analysis of variance model, race/ethnicity was not significantly associated with ESS. Two univariable logistic regression models between race and both pulmonary and brain AVMs showed that race was associated with the incidence of pulmonary AVMs (p<0.01), with Asian patients at a 2.3-fold increased risk of pulmonary AVMs compared with White patients (p=0.03). Race was also associated with the incidence of cerebral AVMs (p<0.01) with Hispanic or Latino patients at a 4.8-fold increased risk compared with White patients (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Patients who identified as Asian may have higher rates of pulmonary AVMs while patients identifying as Hispanic or Latino may have more cerebral AVMs. The correlations may be important for identifying risk factors in certain patient populations.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: epidemiological and clinical data from the comprehensive Italian retrospective multicenter study

Rare Disease patients manifested high concern regarding the possible increased risk of severe outcomes and worsening of disease-specific clinical manifestation due to the impact of COVID-19. Our aim was to assess the prevalence, outcomes, and impact of COVID-19 in patients with a rare disease such as Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) in Italian population. A nationwide, multicentric, cross-sectional observational study was conducted on patients with HHT from five Italian HHT centers by online survey. The association between COVID-19-related signs and symptoms and nosebleeds worsening, the impact of personal protective equipment on nosebleeds pattern, and the relationship between the presence of visceral AVMs and severe outcomes were analyzed. Out of 605 total survey responses and eligible for analysis, 107 cases of COVID-19 were reported. A mild-course COVID-19 disease, not requiring hospitalization, was observed in 90.7% of patients, while the remaining eight cases needed hospitalization, two of them requiring intensive-care access. No fatal outcome was recorded and 79.3% of patients reported a complete recovery. No difference in infection risk and outcome between HHT patients and general population was evidenced. No significative interference of COVID-19 on HHT-related bleeding was found. The majority of patients received COVID-19 vaccination, with relevant impact on symptoms and need for hospitalization in case of infection. COVID-19 in HHT patients had an infection profile similar to the general population. COVID-19 course and outcome were independent from any specific HHT-related clinical features. Moreover, COVID-19 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 measures did not seem to affect significantly HHT-related bleeding profile.

Schizencephaly in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The presence of malformations of cortical development in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia has been reported on previous occasions. We evaluated a sample of adults with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia for the presence of malformations of cortical development, spatial coincidence of malformations of cortical development and AVMs, and the coincidence of brain and pulmonary AVMs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 141 patients 18 years of age or older who were referred to the Augusta University hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia clinic and underwent brain MR imaging between January 19, 2018, and December 3, 2020, were identified. MR imaging examinations were reviewed retrospectively by 2 experienced neuroradiologists, and the presence of malformations of cortical development and AVMs was confirmed by consensus. Demographic and clinical information was collected for each case, including age, sex, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia status by the Curacao Criteria, mutation type, presence of malformations of cortical development, presence of brain AVMs, presence of pulmonary AVMs, and a history of seizures or learning disabilities.

RESULTS

Five of 141 (3.5%) patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia had malformations of cortical development. Two of the 5 patients with polymicrogyria also had closed-lip schizencephaly. One of the patients had a porencephalic cavity partially lined with heterotopic GM. The incidence of spatially coincident polymicrogyria and brain AVMs was 40% (2/5 cases). Of the patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and malformations of cortical development, 4/5 (80%) had pulmonary AVMs and 2/5 (40%) had brain AVMs.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, we are the first group to report the presence of schizencephaly in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. The presence of schizencephaly and porencephaly lends support to the hypothesis of regional in utero cerebral hypoxic events as the etiology of malformations of cortical development in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Prevalence of Intracranial Aneurysms in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: Report from a Single Reference Center

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Neurologic manifestations in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia include an increased incidence of brain abscesses and ischemic strokes due to paradoxic embolization in addition to a wide spectrum of symptoms and complications due to typical brain vascular malformations. Intracranial aneurysms are not part of this brain vascular malformation spectrum. The aim of this study was to determine their prevalence in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a single-center, retrospective study. Adult patients from the institutional Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia registry with a definitive diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and an available report or angiographic imaging study were included and reviewed to determine the intracranial aneurysm prevalence. In addition, the morphologic characteristics of intracranial aneurysms and possible associated risk factors were collected.

RESULTS

Two hundred twenty-eight patients were analyzed. Thirty-seven aneurysms in 33 patients (14.5%; 95% CI, 9.9%-19%) were found. The median diameter of intracranial aneurysms was 3.2 mm (interquartile range, 2.6-4.4 mm). No association between intracranial aneurysm and sex, age, or genetic background was noted. There were no subarachnoid hemorrhagic events due to intracranial aneurysm rupture.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the high prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in adult patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, further studies regarding bleeding risks and monitoring should be addressed.

Cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease burden in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

INTRODUCTION

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare genetic disease with prevalence of approximately 1 in 5000-10,000. We evaluated the prevalence and association of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular comorbidities in HHT patients using national database.

METHODS

Retrospective observational study was performed using National Inpatient Sampling (NIS) database for the year 2014. HHT patients and comorbidities were identified using ICD-9 codes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using SAS.

RESULTS

Prevalence of HHT was 0.0119% with predominance in White population. Mean age of HHT patients was 59 years. Increased proportion of HHT patients had hypertension (46.8% vs 42%), anemia (28.9% vs 15.1%), chronic pulmonary disease (24.8% vs 16.4%), congestive heart failure (15.7% vs 7.5%), liver disease (7.9% vs 2.8%), migraine (4.5% vs 1.5%), and cerebrovascular malformations (0.8% vs 0.03%), whereas chronic kidney disease (12.7% vs 12.2%), headaches (1.3% vs 1.1%), seizures (0.7% vs 0.9%), transient ischemic attacks (1.06% vs 1.03%), ischemic (1.2% vs 1.0%), and hemorrhagic (0.5% vs 0.3%) strokes were similar to those without HHT. Multivariable model shows increase in cerebrovascular malformations (OR 11.04, CI 2.49-22.26, p < 0.0001), migraine (OR 3.23, CI 2.30-4.52, p < 0.0001), chronic blood loss anemia (OR 6.83, CI 5.36-8.71, p < 0.0001), congestive heart failure (OR 1.55, CI 1.26-1.91, p < 0.0001), chronic pulmonary disease (OR 1.30, CI 1.09-1.56, p = 0.0038), and hepatic disease (OR 2.63, CI 2.01-3.45, p < 0.0001) in HHT patients as compared to non-HHT patients.

CONCLUSION

There is a need for a large prospective registry of HHT patients that can corroborate these associations and burden of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases.

The clinical and genetic features of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) in central South Africa-three novel pathogenic variants

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is supposedly rare in Africa, with only three pathogenic variants documented to date. We describe the clinical and genetic features of HHT patients in central South Africa, who fulfilled the Curaçao criteria. Sixteen patients (median age 38.5 years, range 12-65 years), from six families were included. Fifteen patients were of African descent and one was of Afrikaner descent. The mean epistaxis severity score was 3.18, and the median haemoglobin was 9.5 g/dL (range 3.5-13.5 g/dL). On transthoracic contrast echocardiography 69% had a shunt grade ≥ 1, but only 20% had pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) on computed tomography of the chest. Hepatic AVMs were found in 13% of patients, while 13% had brain vascular malformations. Four patients were HIV positive, of whom two had worsening epistaxis while they had opportunistic infections and poor HIV control. We identified six pathogenic variants (four in ENG and two in ACVRL1) in the six probands, three of which had been described previously. Three variants have apparently not been reported previously: ENG c.[1336_1337dup];[ =] p.[(Asp446fs)];[( =)], ENG c.[ 690?_816+?del] p.[(?)], and ACVRL1 c.[268_274delins57];[ =] p.[(Cys90fs)];[( =)]. We confirmed the diagnosis of HHT in sixteen patients and identified pathogenic variants in ENG or ACVRL1 in all six probands in central South Africa, where HHT has been underreported. We describe three pathogenic variants: two of ENG and one of ACVRL1. We will be able to implement pre-symptomatic screening of patients in our area, and improve their management.

Angiogenesis, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and COVID-19

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare autosomal-dominant disease characterized by pathologic angiogenesis that provokes vascular overgrowth. The evidence about the influence of Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in patients with rare diseases is scarce. We aimed to know the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in HHT patients. The HHT pathogenic angiogenesis and endothelial injury in COVID-19 are discussed using data from RiHHTa (Computerized Registry of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia) registry. RiHHTa is an open, multicenter, prospective, observational registry including adult patients with HHT. A 27-item survey that captured clinical data of admitted HHT patients for COVID-19 was distributed to all RiHHTa investigators from June 8th to June 24th 2020. Only one out of 1177 HHT patients was admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia. She is a 74 years-old woman with a pathogenic variant in ACVRL1 gene. Her clinical course did not involve mechanical ventilation or worsening epistaxis, and she was successfully discharged after two weeks. The endothelial damage and the consequent angiogenic process in COVID-19 patients deserve further investigation.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in brain abscess patients: a nationwide, population-based matched cohort study

OBJECTIVES

The extent of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) as a risk factor for brain abscess is unknown.

METHODS

Nationwide and population-based registries were used to identify persons with first-time hospitalization for brain abscess (index date) and population controls matched by age, sex and residence (1:10). Accounting for competing risks, cumulative incidence curves of new diagnosis of HHT/PAVM after brain abscess were constructed. Next, Cox regression was used for computation of cause-specific hazard rate ratios (HRRs) adjusted for severe liver disease and congenital heart disease as potential confounders.

RESULTS

HHT/PAVM was prevalent before the index date in 2/1384 (0.1%; 95% CI 0.02-0.52) brain abscess patients and 6/13 838 (0.04%; 95% CI 0.02-0.09) matched population controls. After the index date, a new diagnosis of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia or pulmonary arteriovenous malformations was made in 15/1384 brain abscess patients (range 0 days to 17 years) compared with 7/13 812 population controls yielding an adjusted hazard rate ratio of 31.4 (95% CI 9.95-98.9). Cumulative incidence was 1.5% for brain abscess patients and 0.1% for population controls.

DISCUSSION

HHT/PAVM should be considered in patients with cryptogenic brain abscess, although absolute risk is low.

The Prevalence of Malformations of Cortical Development in a Pediatric Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Population

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Brain AVM, cerebral abscess, and ischemic stroke are among the well known neurologic manifestations of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. However, recently reported data suggest an additional association with malformations of cortical development. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of malformations of cortical development in a population of pediatric patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of brain MRIs from 116 pediatric patients was performed. Each patient was referred from our institution's Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Clinic. Each MRI included a 3D sequence, most frequently MPRAGE. The 3D sequence was evaluated by a neuroradiology fellow, with specific attention to the presence or absence of malformations of cortical development. Positive studies were subsequently reviewed by 2 attending neuroradiologists, who rendered a final diagnosis.

RESULTS

Fourteen of 116 (12.1%) patients were found to have a malformation of cortical development. Among these 14, there were 12 cases of polymicrogyria and 2 cases of bifrontal periventricular nodular heterotopia.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia have a relatively high prevalence of malformations of cortical development, typically perisylvian polymicrogyria.

Effect of Center Volume on Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients With Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether hospitalized patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) had better outcomes at high-volume treatment centers (HVCs).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2000-2011) was used to identify HHT-related hospitalizations. Hospitals were classified based on quartiles of annual HHT discharge volume. The 75th percentile cutoff value (third quartile) was used to classify hospitals as low-volume centers (1-7 HHT discharges per year) or as HVCs (≥8 discharges per year. Demographic features, complication rates, and outcomes were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

We identified 9440 hospital discharges in patients with HHT. Of these patients, 6856 (72.6%) were admitted to low-volume centers and 2584 (27.4%) to HVCs. The former were more likely to be of white race, older, and with higher income levels (P<.001 for each). The HVCs had higher rates of anemia, epistaxis, congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and cerebral and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and lower rates of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction. After adjusting for baseline differences in a multivariate model, patients treated at HVCs were more likely to be discharged home (odds ratio [OR]=1.35; 95% CI, 1.21-1.52; P<.001) and less likely to be discharged to short-term rehabilitation facilities (OR=0.45; 95% CI, 0.31-0.64; P<.001). Patients treated at HVCs also had a significantly lower risk of in-hospital mortality (OR=0.51; 95% CI, 0.34-0.74; P<.001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with HHT hospitalized at HVCs had better outcomes, with lower in-hospital mortality and higher home discharge rates. These findings strongly support ongoing efforts to expand access to HHT centers of excellence in the United States and worldwide.

High prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

OBJECTIVE

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular disorder causing mucocutaneous telangiectases and visceral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is considered an uncommon complication of HHT whose impact on the survival of these patients is currently unknown.

METHODS

From January 1995 to December 2008, 29 hospitalized patients with definite HHT were included and followed until January 2011. Data on demographics, clinical symptoms and survival were recorded. PH was classified according to echocardiographic probability.

RESULTS

A CT angiogram was performed in 24 of the 29 patients with HHT and AVMs were detected in 16 of them (67%): hepatic in 58%, pulmonary in 33% and spinal in 3%; 37% had both pulmonary and hepatic AVMs. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTE) was performed in 21 patients. PH was considered possible in 4 (14%) and probable in 9 (31%). The mean age at diagnosis was lower in patients with PH than in patients without PH (54±16.5 years vs 73±8.8 years, p=0.002). PH was more prevalent in patients with AVMs (56 vs. 23%, p=0.036). The mean follow-up of the entire cohort was 6±4.4 years (range: 2 months-17 years), during this time 18 patients died (62%; mean age 73±8.1 years). Patients with PH died at a younger age (68±8.4 vs. 79±2.7 years, p=0.015) than those without PH.

CONCLUSIONS

PH is a severe condition that significantly reduces survival on HHT patients. PH should be suspected in all HHT patients with dyspnea and hepatic AVMs.

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: children need screening too

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant blood vessel disorder characterized by the presence of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), epistaxis, and mucocutaneous telangiectases. AVMs are present in lungs, brain, liver, and spine. Children and adults share the same manifestations, with epistaxis and skin telangiectases being the most common. Parents often seek medical attention for their children after an adult in the family is diagnosed. There is debate whether manifestations of HHT are present at birth or develop after puberty, thus making recommendations for evaluation or screening of children in families with HHT uncertain. In the authors' pediatric HHT center, potentially life-threatening manifestations of HHT have been identified in asymptomatic children under 12 years of age. Treatments for HHT include embolization and surgery, laser, and hormone therapy. It is imperative for nurses and other health professionals to recognize this disease and become familiar with evaluation and treatment options.

[Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia]

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HTT, or Osler-Weber-Rendu disease) is a constitutional vascular dysplasia characterized by hemorrhagic manifestations, cutaneous or mucosal telangiectases and visceral shunting due to arteriovenous malformations. In France, its prevalence varies from 1/6,000 to 1/8,500. The diagnosis is clinical and based on the common triad: chronic epistaxis, responsible for anemias, cutaneous or mucosal telangiectases (on typical locations) and the hereditary nature of these signs inheredited in an autosomal dominant way. Penetrance is almost complete at 50 years. Visceral complications produce highly variable manifestations: pulmonary arteriovenous malformations may be manifested by brain abscess or transient ischemic attacks, signs of chronic hypoxia or hemorrhagic rupture; neurological arteriovenous malformations can produce signs of compression or be hemorrhagic; hepatic arteriovenous malformations, which remain latent for a long time, become clinically severe in a limited proportion of patients; hemorrhagic, digestive arteriovenous malformations worsen chronic anemia. HHT is a genetic disorder; two genes (ALK1 and ENG) involved in the signaling pathway of the transforming growth factor-beta have been identified so far. Vascular homeostasis of capillaries is impaired, which leads to an accumulation in time of successive and progressive telangiectases and arteriovenous fistulas. Disease management consists in anemia management, as well as in epistaxis prevention and treatment. The management of arteriovenous malformations lies on early detection and the possibility to occlude them with interventional radiology.

[Screening for systemic manifestations of vascular malformations in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler disease)]

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (Rendu-Osler- Weber syndrome) is a disease characterized by systemic vascular malformations. Typical clinical manifestations are recurrent epistaxis and telangiectases of the skin and the mucous membranes. The syndrome is furthermore characterized by its hereditary aspect. The disease seems to be much more complicated than previously thought, mainly because of the accompanying vascular malformations in vital organs, like the liver, the kidney, the lung, the brain, and the eyes. The diagnosis and treatment of systemic vascular malformations requires interdisciplinary management.

Prevalence of ocular manifestations in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

BACKGROUND

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a systemic disorder of the fibrovascular tissue. Few data have been published on the frequency of ophthalmologic manifestations. The aim of this study was to assess this frequency.

METHODS

A prospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted in a multitude of clinical practices and in a tertiary referral center. The main outcome measure was the number of vascular malformations detected by an ophthalmologic inspection of the retina and the conjunctivae in both eyes in a random sample of patients with HHT.

RESULTS

No retinal telangiectases were observed in any of the 75 patients (150 eyes) examined. Conjunctival telangiectases were detected in 28 of 74 patients (47 of 148 eyes).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of retinal telangiectases seems to be lower than 1/75 (< 1.3%). This data does not justify screening procedures to detect retinal telangiectases. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the symptoms of HHT and its systemic character.

Pulmonary vascular manifestations of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (rendu-osler disease)

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) or Rendu-Osler-Weber disease is a genetic disorder with autosomal dominance and variable penetrance, characterized by epistaxis, telangiectasia and visceral manifestations of the disease. The estimated minimal prevalence is 1/10,000 inhabitants. The diagnosis is established on clinical criteria, and may be further confirmed by the identification of causative mutations in either the ENG or the ACVRL1 gene coding for endoglin and ALK1, respectively. Pulmonary vascular manifestations of HHT include pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs; especially in patients with ENG mutations) and less frequently pulmonary hypertension (especially in patients with ACVRL1 mutations). In 15-33% of patients with HHT, PAVMs consist of abnormal communications between pulmonary arteries and pulmonary veins, causing right-to-left shunting, and thus, frequently hypoxemia and dyspnea on exertion, although PAVMs may remain asymptomatic and frequently undiagnosed unless complications occur. PAVMs result in severe and frequent complications often at a young age, which may reveal the diagnosis, e.g. transient ischemic attack and cerebral stroke (10-19% of patients), systemic severe infections and abscesses (including cerebral abscess in 5-19% of patients), and rarely massive hemoptysis or hemothorax. Infections in HHT are related to the right-to-left shunting that bypasses the pulmonary capillaries and facilitates the passage of septic or aseptic emboli into the systemic and especially cerebral circulation, and potentially to minor defects in innate immunity. Treatment of PAVMs based on transcatheter coil vaso-occlusion of the feeding artery significantly decreases right-to-left shunting, hypoxemia and dyspnea on exertion, and reduces the risk of systemic complications. Long-term follow-up is warranted after transcatheter vaso-occlusion of PAVMs due to frequent recanalization of treated PAVMs and development or growth of untreated PAVMs. Patients with HHT should be informed of the risk of PAVM and potentially severe complications occurring in heretofore asymptomatic subjects. All adult patients with HHT should be proposed systematic screening for PAVM, by contrast echocardiography (preceded by anteroposterior chest radiograph) or computed tomography of the chest. Pulmonary hypertension is rare in HHT, and may be due either to systemic arteriovenous shunting in the liver increasing cardiac output or be clinically and histologically indistinguishable from idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension is detected by systematic examination of right cardiac cavities and tricuspid regurgitation flow at echocardiography, and the diagnosis is established by right heart catheterization.

High proportion of large genomic deletions and a genotype phenotype update in 80 unrelated families with juvenile polyposis syndrome

BACKGROUND

In patients with juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) the frequency of large genomic deletions in the SMAD4 and BMPR1A genes was unknown.

METHODS

Mutation and phenotype analysis was used in 80 unrelated patients of whom 65 met the clinical criteria for JPS (typical JPS) and 15 were suspected to have JPS.

RESULTS

By direct sequencing of the two genes, point mutations were identified in 30 patients (46% of typical JPS). Using MLPA, large genomic deletions were found in 14% of all patients with typical JPS (six deletions in SMAD4 and three deletions in BMPR1A). Mutation analysis of the PTEN gene in the remaining 41 mutation negative cases uncovered a point mutation in two patients (5%). SMAD4 mutation carriers had a significantly higher frequency of gastric polyposis (73%) than did patients with BMPR1A mutations (8%) (p<0.001); all seven cases of gastric cancer occurred in families with SMAD4 mutations. SMAD4 mutation carriers with gastric polyps were significantly older at gastroscopy than those without (p<0.001). In 22% of the 23 unrelated SMAD4 mutation carriers, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) was also diagnosed clinically. The documented histologic findings encompassed a wide distribution of different polyp types, comparable with that described in hereditary mixed polyposis syndromes (HMPS).

CONCLUSIONS

Screening for large deletions raised the mutation detection rate to 60% in the 65 patients with typical JPS. A strong genotype-phenotype correlation for gastric polyposis, gastric cancer, and HHT was identified, which should have implications for counselling and surveillance. Histopathological results in hamartomatous polyposis syndromes must be critically interpreted.

Health-related quality of life in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

OBJECTIVE

To assess and differentiate the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

A prospective, open, cross-sectional questionnaire-based study (including the Short Form-36 Health Survey [SF-36]) performed by a tertiary care center.

RESULTS

A total of 77 patients (36 females) were included. Except for one domain (bodily pain), the scores for all scales of the SF-36 were significantly reduced in comparison with normative data. The duration of epistaxis, the presence of hepatic involvement and gastrointestinal bleeding, and the number of visible telangiectases correlated with lower scores on several scales of the SF-36. Unexpectedly, the frequency of epistaxis did not correlate with any scale.

CONCLUSIONS

The duration of epistaxis, liver involvement, gastrointestinal bleeding, and the number of visible telangiectases have a major influence on the HR-QoL in HHT whereby the frequency of epistaxis seems to play a minor role.

SIGNIFICANCE

The data presented have an impact on therapeutic decisions, medical expert opinions, and research funding.

Hemorrhagic hereditary telangiectasia (Rendu-Osler disease) and infectious diseases: an underestimated association

Among 353 patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia retrospectively analyzed during the period 1985-2005, we identified 67 cases of severe infection that affected 48 patients (13.6%). Extracerebral infections accounted for 67% of all infections, and most involved Staphylococcus aureus and were associated with prolonged epistaxis. Cerebral infections accounted for 33% of all infections, were mainly due to multiple and anaerobic bacteria, and were associated with the presence of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and a short duration of epistaxis.

Distribution of ENG and ACVRL1 (ALK1) mutations in French HHT patients

Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by arteriovenous malformations and resulting from mutations in two major genes: ENG and ACVRL1. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of the mutations of ENG and ACVRL1 in HHT, based on the largest series of patients reported so far, recruited through a national network. We previously reported the first mutation screening of both genes, in French HHT patients, using heteroduplex analysis. This previous study, bringing 60 novel mutations, provided a significant improvement to the knowledge of molecular pathology in HHT. However, 32% (n=48) of the patients with a confirmed clinical diagnosis remained without mutation. In these patients, we performed an extensive molecular analysis that included the sequencing of the whole coding sequence, the search for large rearrangements, and screening of the potential 5' regulatory regions. Additionally, due to the lack of large pedigrees suitable for linkage analysis, and since SMAD4 germline mutations have been reported in families with combined HHT and juvenile polyposis, we screened this gene and five other genes involved in the TGF-beta/BMP pathway in the patients without mutation of ENG or ACVRL1. Only a novel SMAD1 non-conservative substitution was found in one patient, changing a poorly conserved methionine to an isoleucin. Twenty-three mutations were found in ACVRL1 and 8 in ENG (including a duplication of exons 4 to 8 and deletions of exons 1 to 3 and 9 to 14). Our results, combined with our previous data, increase the mutation rate to 88% (n=119/136) in French patients with a confirmed clinical diagnosis. Our results also emphasize the higher prevalence of large insertions/deletions in ENG and the predominance of ACVRL1 over ENG mutations.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: an update on clinical manifestations and diagnostic measures

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Rendu-Osler-Weber disease, is an autosomal dominant disorder of the fibrovascular tissue. It is characterized by the classic triad of (muco-)cutaneous telangiectases, arteriovenous malformations with recurrent epistaxis and hemorrhages, and inheritance. A wide variety of clinical manifestations in HHT have been described. In more than 90% of the patients, nosebleeds are the first predominant symptom, therefore ENT physicians often play a key role as far as diagnosis and management of the disease are concerned. In spite of recent diagnostic and therapeutic progress, a cure for this often burdening and handicapping disease is still not available. Apart from affecting the nose, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) may also affect the skin, lungs, brain, liver and gastrointestinal tract. The two known genes that are implicated in HHT are endoglin (ENG) located on chromosome 9q33-q34 and activin-receptor-like kinase (ALK1) located on chromosome 12q13. Mutations of ENG are observed in HHT type 1 with an incidence up to 40% for pulmonary AVMs, whereas mutations of ALK1 are observed in HHT type 2 with an incidence of only 14% for pulmonary AVMs, which clinically distinguishes these two types of mutation. The emphasis of this paper is mainly on the clinical manifestation, molecular genetics and diagnosis of HHT, taking account of current literature on HHT in order to better understand the complexity of the disease. Recent therapeutic options in the treatment of HHT have been omitted from this paper as they are subject of a following paper. HHT is more common than previously thought and shows a broad range of different clinical organ manifestations that can be sources of substantial morbidity and mortality, making HHT a continuing challenge for many sub-specialties where interdisciplinary diagnostic screening is mandatory in the management of the disease.

Introduction: hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia as a rare disease

A disease is considered rare in the United States when it affects one individual per 1, 250 and one individual per 2,000 in Europe. Most rare diseases (RD) are of genetic origin; their rarity involves a difficult and/or late diagnosis. The greatest barrier to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of RD is inadequate knowledge. Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a "rare" genetic disorder that is becoming more commonly recognised. Recent evidence indicates that it is more frequent (1-2/10,000) than previously estimated. We suppose that the frequent misdiagnosis and the different genetic penetrance have led to an underestimation of real prevalence. In fact, progress in scientific knowledge and improvement in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies has unmasked conditions which were not fully known previously, determining a fictitious decrease in disease frequency.

Genotype-phenotype relationship in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by vascular malformations in multiple organ systems, resulting in mucocutaneous telangiectases and arteriovenous malformations predominantly in the lungs (pulmonary arteriovenous malformation; PAVM), brain (cerebral arteriovenous malformation; CAVM), and liver (hepatic arteriovenous malformation; HAVM). Mutations in the ENG and ALK-1 genes lead to HHT1 and HHT2 respectively. In this study, a genotype-phenotype analysis was performed. A uniform and well classified large group of HHT patients and their family members were screened for HHT manifestations. Groups of patients with a clinically confirmed diagnosis and/or genetically established diagnosis (HHT1 or HHT2) were compared. The frequency of PAVM, CAVM, HAVM, and gastrointestinal telangiectases were determined to establish the genotype-phenotype relationship. The analysis revealed differences between HHT1 and HHT2 and within HHT1 and HHT2 between men and women. PAVMs and CAVMs occur more often in HHT1, whereas HAVMs are more frequent in HHT2. Furthermore, there is a higher prevalence of PAVM in women compared with men in HHT1. In HHT1 and HHT2, there is a higher frequency of HAVM in women. HHT1 has a distinct, more severe phenotype than HHT2. There is a difference in the presence of symptoms between men and women. With these data, genetic counselling can be given more accurately when the family mutation is known.

[Intracranial arteriovenous malformations: review of epidemiologic and genetic data]

Estimation of prevalence and incidence rates in a disease is crucial to estimate the risk of the natural evolution of the disease. We have reviewed published data on intracranial AVM and have noted that reported estimated risks were quite variable mainly due to the lack of population-based prospective data. Nonetheless, estimation of these parameters can be made from selected populations. We will note also that there is no published data confirming a genetic origin for the most frequent group of sporadic AVM.

Brain Abscess: A Need to Screen for Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are direct connections between an artery and a vein in the pulmonary circulation associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia in up to 88% of cases. Patients with PAVMs are at increased risk of brain abscess (BA). This study aimed to provide preliminary data on the prevalence of PAVMs among BA patients.

METHODS

Administrative hospital discharge forms were used to identify patients with BA; possible PAVM patients were screened.

RESULTS

126 patients with BA were identified. Two patients had undiagnosed PAVMs at the time of admission for BA. The age-adjusted incidence of BA was 6.3 cases/1 million/year, with a male:female ratio of 2.0.

CONCLUSION

Although PAVMs are rare conditions, they play a role in the development of BA. PAVMs are usually not recognized at the time of BA, thus exposing patients to life-threatening risks.

Mucocutaneous telangiectases of the head and neck in individuals with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia -- analysis of distribution and symptoms

Telangiectases are a diagnostic clue of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT, Rendu-Osler-Weber disease), but they are not specific to HHT. The characteristic features of telangiectases were studied in a group of 70 individuals with this disorder. The files, including photo and video documentation of these patients, were reviewed with regard to mucocutaneous vascular lesions. Telangiectases could be identified within the nasal mucosa in 90% of the HHT patients. Extranasal telangiectases were identified in descending order in the oral cavity, the facial skin, the hands, the auricles and the thorax. The vascular lesions showed considerable variation in size and shape, and on the nasal mucosa they were most commonly hemorrhagic. The earliest onset of cutaneous telangiectases was documented at the age of 6 years. Contrary to previous communications, more than 25% of patients had hemorrhages outside the nose. These hemorrhages were self-limiting in most cases. Prolonged hemorrhages requiring treatment were observed in 12% of cases. Such severe hemorrhages originated from telangiectases of the base of the tongue, the body of the tongue, the fingers and the skin of the supraclavicular fossa. We conclude that telangiectases occur at an earlier age than generally thought and are a hallmark of a serious disorder rather than a cosmetic problem.

[Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome--a complex systemic disease]

Hereditary hemorrhagic teleangiectasia (HHT or Rendu-Osler-Weber Syndrome) is an inherited autosomal dominant disorder of the vascular connective tissue. The resulting vascular malformations can occur in virtually any organ. Nosebleeds can massively impact on the quality of life of those afflicted. However, visceral manifestations are likely to be more serious, and may be comparable with a "ticking time bomb". Most commonly affected are the vascular systems of the lungs, liver, brain and gastrointestinal tract. Screening is recommended--at least with regard to the lungs. Difficult constellations of this complex condition may be successfully managed by an interdisciplinary approach.

High prevalence of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia in subjects with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

A vascular pathogenesis of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) has been suggested; this study was aimed to evaluate in families with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) the prevalence of FNH, relating it to presence and stage of hepatic vascular malformations (VMs). Fifty-two HHT families underwent a screening program including abdominal Doppler sonography (US) searching for hepatic VMs; we classified them as minimal, moderate and severe, depending on the number and degree of abnormalities found by Doppler US. Presence of focal liver lesions was recorded. Diagnosis of FNH was made if at least two examinations, whether color Doppler US, liver scintigraphy, dynamic computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR), showed suggestive findings. FNH was found in five out of 274 subjects (1.8%). All five were affected by HHT. Thus, percentage related to the group of affected patients increased to 2.9; 4/5 presented severe liver VMs. Female-to-male ratio was 4:1. FNH was single in three cases; tumor size ranged between 20 and 90 mm. During follow-up, no lesion showed a reduction in size, three showed an increase. Prevalence of FNH in patients with HHT is far greater than that reported in the general population; Doppler US role in its diagnosis and follow-up is highlighted.

Posterior cranial fossa single-hole arteriovenous fistulae in children: 14 consecutive cases

We report 14 consecutive children with 23 posterior cranial fossa arteriovenous fistula (AVF); six had multifocal lesions, involving the supratentorial brain in three and the spinal cord in one. There were two boys and four girls with a family history compatible with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia. The diagnosis was made in infancy in eight cases and in a further six before the age of 12 years; mean age at diagnosis was 3.5 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.8:1. Presenting features were macrocrania in four cases, haemorrhage or headache in three and nonhaemorrhagic neurological deficits or and cardiac overload in two. Dominant supply to the symptomatic fistula arose from the posterior inferior cerebellar artery in five cases, anterior inferior cerebellar artery in two and the upper basilar artery system in seven. All children were primarily treated by transarterial embolisation. We treated thirteen children (93%) by transarterial embolisation alone; one older child with a history of haemorrhage also underwent radiosurgery. We obtained 100% exclusion of the fistula(e) in six children, 95-80% in five, 80-50% in one and <50% in one. Of the incompletely treated cases, three had conservative management, and two with 80% and one with 60% reduction of their lesion are scheduled for elective treatment; two partially treated case died. There was no morbidity due to the endovascular procedures. Follow-up since referral is 6 months-10 years (mean 4.5 years). Ten children are neurologically normal, two have persistent (pre-existing) neurological deficits and two are dead.

A combined syndrome of juvenile polyposis and hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia associated with mutations in MADH4 (SMAD4)

BACKGROUND

Juvenile polyposis and hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia are autosomal dominant disorders with distinct and non-overlapping clinical features. The former, an inherited gastrointestinal malignancy predisposition, is caused by mutations in MADH4 (encoding SMAD4) or BMPR1A, and the latter is a vascular malformation disorder caused by mutations in ENG (endoglin) or ACVRL1 (ALK1). All four genes encode proteins involved in the transforming-growth-factor-beta signalling pathway. Although there are reports of patients and families with phenotypes of both disorders combined, the genetic aetiology of this association is unknown.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected from seven unrelated families segregating both phenotypes. DNA from the proband of each family was sequenced for the ACVRL1, ENG, and MADH4 genes. Mutations were examined for familial cosegregation with phenotype and presence or absence in population controls. Findings No patient had mutations in the ENG or ACVRL1 genes; all had MADH4 mutations. Three cases of de-novo MADH4 mutations were found. In one, the mutation was passed on to a similarly affected child. Each mutation cosegregated with the syndromic phenotype in other affected family members.

INTERPRETATION

Mutations in MADH4 can cause a syndrome consisting of both juvenile polyposis and hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia phenotypes. Since patients with these disorders are generally ascertained through distinct medical specialties, genetic testing is recommended for patients presenting with either phenotype to identify those at risk of this syndrome. Patients with juvenile polyposis who have an MADH4 mutation should be screened for the vascular lesions associated with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, especially occult arteriovenous malformations in visceral organs that may otherwise present suddenly with serious medical consequences.

Massive Pulmonary Hemorrhage from Dual Circulation Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are commonly supplied by the pulmonary arterial system and rarely by the systemic bronchial circulation. The authors outline the case of a young woman with pulmonary AVMs as part of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia with the uncommon presentation of massive hemoptysis. Management of her recurrent, life-threatening pulmonary hemorrhage was complicated by pulmonary AVMs that were supplied by both the pulmonary and systemic bronchial arterial circulatory systems. Transcatheter embolotherapy of the higher pressure bronchial systemic circuit was necessary for acute hemostasis.

The value of screening for multiple arterio-venous malformations in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: a diagnostic study

Occult visceral arterio-venous malformations (AVMs) may be a constant threat to patients suffering from hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome (M. ROW). HHT patients predominantly become symptomatic through chronic, recurrent epistaxis, a symptom that can alert physicians at an early stage of the disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether occult, visceral arterio-venous malformations could be detected by screening imaging studies in patients suffering from HHT. In a comprehensive diagnostic study, Rendu-Osler-Weber patients were examined for potential visceral arterio-venous malformations by physical examination and non-invasive imaging techniques. The Department of Otolaryngology of the Philipps University of Marburg is a major referral center and coordinated the screening procedures. Thirty-five individuals with the presumed diagnosis of HHT gave informed consent to the screening investigations. Eighteen of 35 individuals were found to suffer from visceral vascular malformations; most of the AVMs were diagnosed in the lung, but also the liver, spleen, brain and eyes were affected. Six patients could be treated preventively by arterial embolization for AVMs of the lung, liver and brain. Comprehensive screening for occult AVMs in HHT patients seems to be justified to avert potential complications in this group of patients.

Should asymptomatic patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) be screened for cerebral vascular malformations? Data from 22,061 years of HHT patient life

BACKGROUND

The frequency of haemorrhage in individuals with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), 10% of whom will have cerebral arteriovenous (AV) malformations, could be high enough to justify screening. This would allow presymptomatic treatment to prevent early onset stroke in a condition that affects at least 1 in 8000 individuals. This is an important issue in view of the contrast between transatlantic management approaches, the worldwide dissemination of patient information, and the ethical implications of the diagnosis for the untreated patient.

OBJECTIVES

To define the annual incidence of haemorrhagic stroke in individuals with HHT.

METHODS

Retrospective study on stroke incidence in individuals with HHT and their immediate families (n = 674; 22,061 HHT patient years), specifically analysing patients under 46 years of age (17,515 patient years). The results were compared with stroke risk in the general population.

RESULTS

In the majority of cases, the haemorrhage was the first significant neurological event. Overcorrecting for any bias towards overestimation that would be introduced in excluding non-penetrant family members, cerebral haemorrhages were more than 20 times more common in male HHT subjects under the age of 45 years than in the general population (standardised ratio 22.99; 95% confidence interval, 13.14 to 37.33). Haemorrhages were also six times more common in female HHT subjects (6.18; 2.27 to 13.45). The incidence ratio of cerebral haemorrhage in male patients (1.84; 1.05 to 2.99) yielded a haemorrhage rate in individuals with cerebral AV malformations of 1.4-2.0% per annum, comparable to figures in the non-HHT cerebral AV malformation population.

CONCLUSIONS

These data contradict accepted wisdom in many countries that asymptomatic HHT patients are at a low (and acceptable) risk of haemorrhage. The data justify a more aggressive screening approach to identify small causative lesions amenable to treatment.

Liver disease in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu disease, is an hereditary disorder that results in fibrovascular dysplasia with the development of telangiectasias and arteriovenous malformations. It predominantly involves the skin, mucous membranes, viscera, lungs, and brain. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia shows great genetic heterogeneity, and its phenotypes have been classified based on the recently identified mutated genes: endoglin (HHT-1) and activin-like kinase receptor-1 (HHT-2). Other families with phenotypic HHT do not bear these mutations; therefore, other genes are probably involved as well. Liver involvement is reported in up to 30% of persons affected by HHT. Large arteriovenous malformations in the liver can lead to significant complications, including high-output congestive heart failure, portal hypertension, hepatic encephalopathy, biliary ischemia, and liver failure. Embolization of large arteriovenous malformations in the liver remains controversial; however, liver transplantation can successfully eradicate these complications.

Rendu-Osler-Weber disease: experience with 56 patients

Rendu-Osler-Weber disease, or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by systemic vascular dysplasia. The prevalence varies and ranges, according to region, from 1/3500 to 1/5000. Data concerning Italy are not available. The diagnosis is based on the following criteria: family history, epistaxis, telangiectases and visceral arteriovenous malformations. The diagnosis is to be considered definite if three criteria are present and suspected if two criteria are present. From September 2000 to March 2002, 100 patients (63 males, 37 females, mean age 45.5 +/- 17.3 years) potentially affected by HHT were evaluated in the HHT Center of the "Augusto Murri" Internal Medicine Section at the University of Bari (on a day-hospital or hospitalization basis). The diagnosis of HHT was confirmed in 56 patients and suspected in 10. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed cerebral arteriovenous malformations in 8.5% of patients. In 14.6% of patients contrast echocardiography revealed pulmonary arteriovenous malformations subsequently confirmed at multislice computed tomography in all cases but one. In 48.2% of subjects hepatic vascular malformations were revealed by echo color Doppler ultrasonography, whereas abdominal multislice computed tomography was positive in 63.8% of patients. In 64% of the 25 patients, who underwent endoscopy, gastric telangiectases were found. In 3 out of 6 patients presenting with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, embolotherapy was performed with success. In our patients, the use of tranexamic acid caused a reduction in the frequency of epistaxis. The future objectives of the HHT Center of Bari are to increase knowledge of the disease, to cooperate with other centers with the aim of increasing the number of patients studied and to avoid the limits of therapeutic and diagnostic protocols of a rare disease such as HHT.

Genetic epidemiology of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia in a local community in the northern part of Japan

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT or Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by aberrant vascular development. We report here a genetic epidemiologic study in a county, A, in the Akita prefecture (population 1.2 million) located in northern Japan. Nine HHT patients who had been referred to tertiary-care hospitals were located in and near the study county. A total of 137 pedigree members were traced of which 81 were alive and 32 were affected by HHT. Complications associated with cerebral or pulmonary arteriovenous malformations were proven in six out of seven families. Linkage analysis in two large families revealed a weak yet suggestive linkage to the HHT1 locus (encoding endoglin; ENG). Three novel mutations were found in four families, all of which led to a frameshift: a G to C transversion at the splicing donor site of intron 3 (Inv3+1 G>C) in one family, one base pair insertion (A) at nucleotide 828 (exon 7) of the endoglin cDNA in two large families (c.828-829 ins A), and a four base pair deletion (AAAG) beginning with nucleotide 1120 (exon 8) of the endoglin cDNA (c.1120-1123 delAAAG) in one family. The insertion of A in exon 11 (c.1470-1471 insA) mutation found in one family has also been reported in a European family. No endoglin gene mutations were found in two families. The population prevalence of HHT in the county was estimated to be 1:8,000 approximately 1:5,000, roughly comparable with those reported in European and U.S. populations, which is contradictory to the traditional view that HHT is rare among Asians. We recommend that families with HHT be screened for gene mutations in order that high-risk individuals receive early diagnosis and treatment initiation that will substantially alter their clinical course and prognosis.

[Rendu-Osler-Weber disease. Descriptive study of 17 cases]

OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence and presentation forms of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) among the population in our hospital area.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Descriptive, retrospective study of patients with the diagnosis of HHT from to 1999 at La Fe Hospital, Valencia. Family history, repeated epistaxis, mucocutaneous telangiectasis and visceral lesions, as well as administered treatments, and clinical course were evaluated.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were diagnosed during such time period, with ages ranging from 23 to 80 years. Eight patients had family histories. The most common symptoms included epistaxis and iron-deficiency anemia, followed by muco-cutaneous telangiectasis. Six patients had neurological, five pulmonary, five gastrointestinal, and three hepatic manifestations, usually secondary to vascular malformations at those levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of the disease maybe higher than previously reported. This disease should be considered in patients with repeated epistaxis and/or iron-deficiency anemia. The presence of telangiectasis that can suggest the diagnosis should be investigated. An early diagnosis of HHT can be useful for the early control of associated visceral malformations. Treatment of HHT should be tailored according to the clinical manifestations of the patient.

Risk factors for pulmonary arterial hypertension

The present limitations in knowledge of the potential risk factors for PPH undoubtedly are attributable to the facts that PPH is a rare disease with an unknown pathogenesis and lacking large case series. Moreover, definite epidemiologic data are rare and ideally should be obtained from epidemiologic surveys such as large case-control studies. The increased incidence of the disease in young women, the familial cases, the association with autoimmune disorders, and the recent discovery that mutation of the PPH1 gene may not be restricted to familial PPH support the hypothesis that the development of pulmonary hypertension likely implies an individual susceptibility or predisposition, which is probably genetically determined. It is also now commonly believed that the development of pulmonary hypertension in some of these predisposed individuals could be hastened or precipitated by various expression factors (some of them yet unrecognized), such as ingestion of certain drugs or diets, portal hypertension, or HIV infection.

Cerebrovascular manifestations in 321 cases of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) are at risk for developing cerebral vascular malformations and pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae. We assessed the risk of neurological dysfunction from these malformations and fistulae.

METHODS

Three hundred twenty-one consecutive patients with HHT seen at a single institution over a 20-year period were studied. Any evidence of prior neurological symptoms or presence of an intracranial vascular malformation was recorded. All cases of possible cerebral arteriovenous malformation were confirmed by conventional arteriography.

RESULTS

Twelve patients (3.7%) had a history of cerebral vascular malformations. Ten patients had arteriovenous malformations, 1 had a dural arteriovenous fistula, and 1 had a cavernous malformation. Seven patients (2.1%) presented with intracranial hemorrhage, 2 presented with seizures alone, and 3 were discovered incidentally. The average age at the time of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was 25.4 years. All patients with a history of intracranial hemorrhage were classified as Rankin grade I or II at a mean follow-up interval of 6.0 years. A history of cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack was found in 29.6% of patients with HHT and a pulmonary arteriovenous fistula.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of intracranial hemorrhage is low among people with HHT. Furthermore, a majority of these patients have a good functional outcome after hemorrhage. The data do not suggest a compelling indication for routine screening of patients with HHT for asymptomatic cerebral vascular malformations. By comparison, pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae are a much more frequent cause of neurological symptoms in this population.