Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

N Am J Med Sci. 2015 Mar;7(3):125-8. doi: 10.4103/1947-2714.153928.

Abstract

Background: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disorder, which affects various internal organs and has a tendency for bleeding. It has a classic triad of mucocutaneous telangiectasias, recurrent hemorrhages and positive familial history of first-degree relative. Epistaxis or gastrointestinal telangiectasia can be fatal in a small number of cases.

Case report: A 44-year-old woman came with complaints of recurrent episodes of hematemesis and epistaxis. Patient had a family history of similar complaints. Patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), which revealed telangiectasia in the stomach. Imaging of the abdomen showed features suggestive of arteriovenous shunting.

Conclusion: HHT can remain undiagnosed for a long time, and is rarely being reported in the literature with management needing a multidisciplinary approach with early inputs from a gastroenterologist.

Keywords: Anemia; Arteriovenous malformation; Epistaxis; Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia; Osler-Weber-Rendu.

Publication types

  • Case Reports