A challenging case of anemia, respiratory failure and seizures

Acta Biomed. 2022 Sep 21;93(S1):e2022267. doi: 10.23750/abm.v93iS1.13076.

Abstract

Background: Hemorrhagic Hereditary Telangiectasia (HHT), or Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, is a rare genetic disorder characterized by mucocutaneous telangiectasias and visceral arteriovenous malformations.

Aim and methods: We describe the case of a 64-year old woman in which radiology was useful to interpret an apparently unexplained constellation of symptoms.

Results: Brain MRI showing ischemic stroke, pulmonary angiography demonstrating arteriovenous malformations, and capsule endoscopy detecting telangiectasias in the jejunum, along with a clinical history of recurrent epistaxis, allowed us to diagnose HHT.

Conclusions: HHT is rare and difficult to diagnose. Radiology can aid the clinical suspicion. www.actabiomedica.it.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anemia*
  • Arteriovenous Malformations*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Respiratory Insufficiency*
  • Seizures / etiology
  • Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic* / diagnosis
  • Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic* / diagnostic imaging