Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Información en español Title

Other Names:

HHT; Osler Weber Rendu syndrome; ORW disease; HHT; Osler Weber Rendu syndrome; ORW disease; Osler-Rendu-Weber disease; Rendu-Osler-Weber disease See More

Categories:

Blood Diseases; Congenital and Genetic Diseases; Digestive Diseases; Blood Diseases; Congenital and Genetic Diseases; Digestive Diseases; Eye diseases; Nervous System Diseases; RDCRN; Skin Diseases See More

Subtypes:

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 2; Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 3; Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 4

This disease is grouped under:

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation

Summary Summary

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an inherited disorder of the blood vessels that can cause excessive bleeding. People with HHT can develop abnormal blood vessels called arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in several areas of the body. AVMs on the skin are called telangiectasias. AVMs can also develop in other parts of the body, including the brain, lungs, liver, or intestines.^[1] HHT is caused by a mutation in one of several genes, including ACVRL1, ENG, SMAD4, and GDF2. Changes in at least other two unknown genes are also suspected of causing HHT in some people.^[2] HHT is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means a person only needs to inherit one copy of the changed gene to have HHT.^[3] While there is no cure for HHT, treatment is symptomatic and supportive, with a focus on controlling bleeding and preventing medical complications, either through surgery or medication.^[1]

Last updated: 10/13/2017

Symptoms Symptoms

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms	Other Names	Learn More: HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Epistaxis	Bloody nose Frequent nosebleeds Nose bleed Nose bleeding Nosebleed [ more ]	0000421
Telangiectasia of the skin		0100585
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Cavernous hemangioma	Collection of dilated blood vessels that forms mass	0001048
Cholecystitis	Gallbladder inflammation	0001082
Microcytic anemia		0001935
Migraine	Intermittent migraine headaches Migraine headaches Migraine headache [ more ]	0002076
Portal hypertension		0001409
Spontaneous hematomas		0007420
Visceral angiomatosis		0100761
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Amblyopia	Lazy eye Wandering eye [ more ]	0000646
Cerebral hemorrhage	Bleeding in brain	0001342
Cholelithiasis	Gallstones	0001081
Cirrhosis	Scar tissue replaces healthy tissue in the liver	0001394
Congestive heart failure	Cardiac failure Cardiac failures Heart failure [ more ]	0001635
Conjunctival telangiectasia	Small dilated blood vessels near membrane covering front of eye and eyelids	0000524
Esophageal varix	Enlarged vein in esophagus	0002040
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage	Gastrointestinal bleeding	0002239
Hematuria	Blood in urine	0000790
Hemoptysis	Coughing up blood	0002105
Hepatic failure	Liver failure	0001399
Intestinal polyposis		0200008
Nephrolithiasis	Kidney stones	0000787
Peripheral arteriovenous fistula		0100784
Pulmonary arterial hypertension	Increased blood pressure in blood vessels of lungs	0002092
Pulmonary embolism	Blood clot in artery of lung	0002204
Retinal telangiectasia		0007763
Seizure		0001250
Subarachnoid hemorrhage		0002138
Transient ischemic attack	Mini stroke	0002326
Venous thrombosis	Blood clot in vein	0004936
1%-4% of people have these symptoms
Cerebral arteriovenous malformation		0002408
Hepatic arteriovenous malformation		0006574
Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation		0006548
Reduced FEV1/FVC ratio		0030877
Restrictive ventilatory defect	Stiff lung or chest wall causing decreased lung volume	0002091
Spontaneous abortion		0005268
Spontaneous, recurrent epistaxis	Recurring nosebleed Spontaneous, recurrent nosebleed [ more ]	0004406
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Anemia	Low number of red blood cells or hemoglobin	0001903
Arteriovenous fistulas of celiac and mesenteric vessels		0002642
Autosomal dominant inheritance		0000006
Brain abscess		0030049
Chest pain		0100749
Clubbing	Clubbing of fingers and toes	0001217
Cyanosis	Blue discoloration of the skin	0000961
Dilatation of celiac artery		0100858
Dilatation of mesenteric artery		0011934
Dyspnea	Trouble breathing	0002094
Exacerbated by pregnancy		0032542
Exertional dyspnea		0002875
Fingerpad telangiectases	Small dilated blood vessels in fingerpads	0006107
Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia		0000471
Gastrointestinal arteriovenous malformation		0002629
Gastrointestinal telangiectasia	Small, enlarged blood vessels near skin	0002604
Hematemesis	Vomitting blood	0002248
Hematochezia	Rectal bleeding	0002573
Hemothorax		0012151
High-output congestive heart failure		0001722
Hypoxemia	Low blood oxygen level	0012418
Ischemic stroke		0002140
Lip telangiectasia		0000214
Melena		0002249
Nail bed telangiectasia		0001232
Nasal mucosa telangiectasia	Spider veins of mucosa of nose Spider veins of mucous membrane of nose Spider veins of nasal mucous membrane [ more ]	0000434
Palate telangiectasia	Telangiectasia of the roof of the mouth	0002707
Polycythemia	Increased red blood cells	0001901
Pulmonary hemorrhage		0040223
Right-to-left shunt		0001694
Spinal arteriovenous malformation		0002390
Tongue telangiectasia		0000227
Venous varicosities of celiac and mesenteric vessels		0002626

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Do you have more information about symptoms of this disease? We want to hear from you.

Last updated: 2/1/2021

Do you have updated information on this disease? We want to hear from you.

Diagnosis Diagnosis

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

Treatment Treatment

Although current treatment cannot stop telangiectasias or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) from forming, many of the symptoms and complications associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) can be treated or prevented.^[4] Management of HHT includes checking for new or worsening AVMs and the treatment of complications such as nosebleeds, bleeding from the intestines or stomach, and anemia. Treatment of AVMs of the lung (pulmonary), brain (cerebral) and liver (hepatic) may also be recommended. ^[2]^[4]

Reducing the number and severity of nosebleeds can help prevent anemia. Treatment of nosebleeds may include using a vaporizer to increase the moisture of room air and keeping the inside of nose moist using nasal lubricants or sprays. Laser therapy may be used to remove the abnormal blood vessels (laser ablation). Other treatment may include medication or hormone therapy, but the effectiveness and safety of these treatments has not been established. If the nosebleeds continue despite other treatment, skin from a different part of the body may be grafted to replace the thin lining of the nose (septal dermoplasty) in an effort to cover and protect the fragile telangiectases.^[2]^[4]

Bleeding in the intestine or stomach is usually only treated if oral iron supplements cannot keep iron levels high enough to avoid anemia. Treatment may include surgical removal of AVMs or laser therapy to destroy and close the AVMs. If severe bleeding with uncontrolled anemia develops, treatment of AVMs in the stomach or intestine may include medication or hormone therapy, but the effectiveness and safety of these treatments has not been established. In addition to oral iron supplements, anemia may be treated by intravenous (IV) iron therapy or, in more severe cases, red blood cell transfusions.^[2]^[4]

Treatment of AVMs of the lungs (pulmonary AVMs) is recommended if the person with HHT is having a hard time breathing (dyspnea), is unable to exercise without extreme fatigue (exercise intolerance), or has low blood oxygen levels (hypoxemia). Treatment of pulmonary AVMs may also be performed to prevent lung hemorrhage and the neurologic complications of brain abscesses and/or stroke. Treatment may include inserting a small inflated balloon or small metal coil in the artery that leads into the AVM in order to stop the blood flow through the AVM (embolotherapy) or surgical removal of the AVM.^[2]^[4] People with pulmonary AVMs are advised to take extra precautions to avoid serious complications. These recommendations include taking antibiotics before dental or surgical procedures, using special filters in IV lines to prevent even tiny air bubbles from entering the blood stream, avoiding blood thinners and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as aspirin, ibuprofin, and naproxen), and regular monitoring by a doctor familiar with HHT.^[4]

AVMs in the brain (cerebral AVMs) greater than 1.0 cm in diameter may be surgically removed. Alternative treatment includes inserting a small inflated balloon or glue-like substance to stop the blood flow through the artery involved in the AVM (embolotherapy) and/or using a narrow, focused beam of radiation to destroy the AVM (stereotactic radiosurgery).^[2]^[4]

AVMs in the liver (hepatic AVMs) are currently treated only if a person shows signs of heart failure or significant health problems related to the liver not working properly. Treatment might include standard heart failure medications, liver transplantation, or medications like bevacizumab.^[4]

In addition, guidelines for people with HHT recommend annual evaluations for anemia and neurologic conditions and re-evaluation for pulmonary AVMs every one to two years during childhood and every five years thereafter. Blood tests to check for anemia may be recommended more often depending on the frequency and severity of nose bleeds or if an intestinal or stomach AVM is bleeding. Women with HHT considering pregnancy are screened and treated for pulmonary AVMs; if pulmonary AVMs are discovered during pregnancy, they are treated during the second trimester.^[2]

Last updated: 10/13/2017

Management Guidelines

The International HHT guidelines goal was to develop evidence-informed consensus guidelines regarding the diagnosis of HHT and the prevention of HHT-related complications and treatment of symptomatic disease. Click on the link to read the abstract for the International Guidelines, published in February 2011 in the American Journal of Medical Genetics.

Find a Specialist Find a Specialist

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

To find a medical professional who specializes in genetics, you can ask your doctor for a referral or you can search for one yourself. Online directories are provided by the American College of Medical Genetics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors. If you need additional help, contact a GARD Information Specialist. You can also learn more about genetic consultations from MedlinePlus Genetics.

Research Research

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Patient Registry

The Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium is a team of doctors, nurses, research coordinators, and research labs throughout the U.S., working together to improve the lives of people with familial cavernous malformations, Sturge-Weber syndrome, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia through research. The Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium has a list of studies for patients who wish to learn more.

For more information: https://www.rarediseasesnetwork.org/cms/bvmc/Get-Involved/Studies

Organizations Organizations

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Cure HHT
P.O. Box 329
Monkton, MD 21111
Toll-free: 800-448-6389
Telephone: 410-357-9932 (Outside U.S.)
Fax: 410-357-0655
E-mail: hhtinfo@curehht.org
Website: http://curehht.org/

Organizations Providing General Support

The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation (TAAF)
182 Howard St.
Box 715
San Francisco, CA 94105
Telephone: (510) 464-4540
Fax: (510) 464-4540
E-mail: info@taafonline.org
Website: https://taafonline.org/

Do you know of an organization? We want to hear from you.

Living With Living With

Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Parent and Caregiver Resources

In this NCATS Video Profile, Jessica McQuillen discusses her life with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Learn More Learn More

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.
The Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium has information and frequently asked questions about Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia for patients and their families.
Learn More About Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT)
Frequently Asked Questions about HHT

In-Depth Information

GeneReviews provides current, expert-authored, peer-reviewed, full-text articles describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients with specific inherited conditions.
Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
Orphanet
Orphanet
PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Selected Full-Text Journal Articles

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia: a clinical and scientific review. European Journal of Human Genetics (2009), 1–12

GARD Answers GARD Answers

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

I have a family history of HHT. I was told I have COPD and COPD related-anemia. Is it possible that HHT caused the COPD? See answer
Can hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) be treated? See answer

Have a question? Contact a GARD Information Specialist.