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Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT)

(Osler-Weber-Rendu Syndrome)

By

David J. Kuter

, MD, DPhil, Harvard Medical School

Reviewed/Revised May 2023
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Topic Resources

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is a hereditary disorder in which blood vessels are malformed, making them fragile and prone to bleeding.

  • Dilated blood vessels (telangiectasia) are present on the skin and the lining of the mouth, nose, and digestive tract.

  • When blood vessels break, people develop active bleeding from these vessels, especially those within the nose.

  • Usually the appearance of the dilated blood vessels on the lips and tongue give doctors enough information to make a diagnosis.

  • Doctors stop the episode of bleeding and may give iron supplements or blood transfusions if the bleeding has caused anemia.

Blood vessels under the skin may break and bleed, causing small, red-to-violet discolorations, especially on the face, lips, lining of the mouth and nose, and tips of the fingers and toes. Severe nosebleeds Nosebleeds Some people get nosebleeds rather often, and others rarely get them. There may be just a trickle of blood or a strong stream. If people swallow the blood, they often vomit it because blood is... read more may also occur. Small blood vessels in the digestive and urinary tracts, as well as in the brain, liver, lungs, and spinal cord, may also be affected, causing bleeding in these sites. If bleeding episodes occur frequently, many people develop a low level of iron in their blood (iron deficiency anemia Iron Deficiency Anemia Iron deficiency anemia results from low or depleted stores of iron, which is needed to produce red blood cells. Excessive bleeding is the most common cause. People may be weak, short of breath... read more ).

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is a genetic disorder, which means people pass on the mutated genes to their children. Some of the genes have been identified.

Symptoms of HHT

Many people with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia have abnormal connections between an artery and a vein (arteriovenous malformations Arteriovenous Fistula An arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal channel between an artery and a vein. Rarely, a large fistula may divert enough blood to cause symptoms of reduced blood flow in the affected arm or leg... read more Arteriovenous Fistula [AVM]). These abnormal connections can shunt blood away from some tissues, leaving them deprived of oxygen. For example, AVMs that develop in the brain or spinal cord may cause seizures Seizure Disorders In seizure disorders, the brain's electrical activity is periodically disturbed, resulting in some degree of temporary brain dysfunction. Many people have unusual sensations just before a seizure... read more , stroke Overview of Stroke A stroke occurs when an artery to the brain becomes blocked or ruptures, resulting in death of an area of brain tissue due to loss of its blood supply (cerebral infarction). Symptoms occur suddenly... read more , or paralysis, and those that occur in the liver may cause liver failure Liver Failure Liver failure is severe deterioration in liver function. Liver failure is caused by a disorder or substance that damages the liver. Most people have jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), feel tired... read more . Shunting of blood and anemia due to bleeding can cause the heart to work harder, leading to heart failure Heart Failure (HF) Heart failure is a disorder in which the heart is unable to keep up with the demands of the body, leading to reduced blood flow, back-up (congestion) of blood in the veins and lungs, and/or... read more Heart Failure (HF) . If an AVM is in a lung, blood passes through the lungs without receiving enough oxygen and the person may be short of breath, feel tired, or have skin that appears bluish. An AVM in the lung also may allow small clots to go to the brain, resulting in a stroke Overview of Stroke A stroke occurs when an artery to the brain becomes blocked or ruptures, resulting in death of an area of brain tissue due to loss of its blood supply (cerebral infarction). Symptoms occur suddenly... read more or transient ischemic attack Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs) A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a disturbance in brain function that typically lasts less than 1 hour and results from a temporary blockage of the brain’s blood supply. The cause and symptoms... read more .

Examples of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Diagnosis of HHT

  • A doctor's evaluation

  • Imaging tests

  • Sometimes genetic testing

Doctors usually make the diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia after considering the person's family history, seeing evidence of bleeding in a person who has typical dilated blood vessels on the face, around the mouth, and on the fingers, palms, and toes, and noting a history of nosebleeds.

Doctors often do blood tests to look for iron deficiency anemia once they suspect the diagnosis.

Once doctors diagnose hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, they do imaging tests to check the brain, lungs, liver, and intestine for the presence of AVMs.

Screening

When family members of a person with AVMs reach puberty, doctors screen them for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Screening usually consists of blood tests to check for anemia and imaging of the lungs, liver, and brain. Because some of the gene mutations that are associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia have been identified, screening may also involve genetic testing. Screening tests are usually repeated at the end of adolescence and every 5 to 10 years thereafter.

Treatment of HHT

  • Stopping bleeding

  • Iron supplements

  • Sometimes blood transfusions

Treatment of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is aimed at stopping or preventing bleeding. Treatment may involve applying pressure, using a topical medication that narrows blood vessels (astringent), or using a laser beam to destroy the leaking blood vessel in the nose or digestive tract. Severe bleeding may require more invasive techniques, including surgery.

AVMs in the lungs, and sometimes in the liver, can be treated using a thin flexible tube (catheter) to insert a small device that blocks the affected blood vessel. In this procedure, doctors insert a catheter through one of the person's arteries and into the artery leading to the AVM. The doctor then passes a small coil or a plug through the catheter to stop the blood flow through the AVM.

Bleeding almost always recurs, resulting in iron deficiency anemia Iron Deficiency Anemia Iron deficiency anemia results from low or depleted stores of iron, which is needed to produce red blood cells. Excessive bleeding is the most common cause. People may be weak, short of breath... read more . People with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia often need oral or intravenous iron supplements. People may also need repeated blood transfusions Overview of Blood Transfusion A blood transfusion is the transfer of blood or a blood component from one healthy person (a donor) to a sick person (a recipient). Transfusions are given to increase the blood's ability to... read more Overview of Blood Transfusion . Some people may also need to take medications (such as aminocaproic acid or tranexamic acid) that inhibit the breakdown of blood clots (to help minimize bleeding).

Other medications such as bevacizumab, pazopanib, pomalidomide, or thalidomide can reduce the number and density of abnormal blood vessels. Of these, only bevacizumab has been shown to reduce the incidence of bleeding in the nose and digestive tract.

More Information

The following English-language resource may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of this resource.

  • CureHHT: General information on hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, including research and support resources

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