eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Vessels
Osler-Weber-Rendu Syndrome
Updated: May 6, 2009
Introduction
Background
Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), is a rare genetically determined disorder that affects blood vessels throughout the body and results in a tendency for bleeding. HHT is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by vascular dysplasia and hemorrhage. The prognosis for the disease is good as long as bleeding is promptly recognized and adequately controlled.
Pathophysiology
The pathogenesis regarding the heterogeneity of vascular malformations in patients with Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), is obscure. A partial explanation of the pathogenesis of HHT has become possible with the identification of 2 distinct genes: the endoglin gene and the activin receptorlike kinase type I (ALK-1) gene. Endoglin and ALK-1 are type III and type I transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-B) receptors, and both are exclusively expressed on vascular endothelial cells. The binding of TGF-B to the type II TGF-B receptor on endothelial cells, which is accelerated in the presence of endoglin, results in the phosphorylation of type I TGF-B receptors, activin receptorlike kinase type 5 (ALK-5), and ALK-1. Phosphorylated ALK-5 and ALK-1 activate the downstream proteins Smad2/3 and Smad1/5, respectively.1The activated Smad proteins dissociate from the type I TGF-B receptor, bind to Smad4, and enter the nucleus to transmit TGF-B signals by regulating transcription from specific gene promoters involved in angiogenesis. Therefore, a balance between the 2 signaling pathways involving ALK-5 and ALK-1 is important in determining the properties of endothelial cells during angiogenesis.
Mutations of endoglin genes and ALK-1 genes are involved in the genetic pathogenesis of HHT type 1 and HHT type 2, respectively. To date, different mutations in endoglin (at least 29) and ALK-1 (at least 17) have been found; these include missense, nonsense, frameshift, and deletion mutations. The precise mechanisms of by which these mutations elicit the vascular abnormalities in patients with HHT remain uncertain. However, the elucidation of the intracellular signal transduction mechanisms and change in targeted gene expressions by using mutant recombinant endoglin or ALK-1 proteins and knockout mice will enable physicians to understand the genetic and molecular pathogenesis of HHT and to effectively treat patients with HHT.
HHT is a disorder that is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion,2 although 20% of patients are unaware of a positive family history, partly because the lesions may be minimal and because 10% of patients have no episodes of bleeding. The homozygous condition probably is fatal. Histopathologic studies reveal large, irregular, thinly walled blood vessels, but the pathogenesis has not been fully established. One current theory states that systemic nevus vascular damage may not be equally expressed in all individuals with HHT. Individuals with blood group type O are affected more often, whereas males and females are affected equally. Coagulation abnormalities and increased fibrinolytic activity in the lesions may contribute to the tendency for bleeding.
Frequency
United States
Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), is rare. Prevalence is 1-2 cases per 100,000 population.
International
The onsets, courses of illness, and sex distributions are the same worldwide. The condition is much more common on the Danish island of Fyn, in the Dutch Antilles, and in parts of France.
Mortality/Morbidity
Most patients with Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), have a favorable prognosis.
- Frequent nosebleeds and melena may result from telangiectasia in the nose and GI tract. Patients with the severe form of HHT have heavy bleeding and resultant iron-deficiency anemia. Recurrent epistaxis is observed in 50-80% of patients. In half the patients, the epistaxis becomes more serious with age, and blood transfusions are required in 10-30% of patients.
- Pulmonary and CNS arteriovenous aneurysms may appear later in life. Patients with pulmonary AVMs and telangiectasis of the GI tract are at risk for life-threatening hemorrhage of the lungs and GI tract.
- Other sites of bleeding may include sites in the GI tract, kidney, spleen, bladder, liver, meninges, and brain. Strokes in patients with Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome may be either hemorrhagic or ischemic. Of patients who have pulmonary AVMs, 2% per year are estimated to have a stroke and 1% per year are estimated to develop a brain abscess. Retinal arteriovenous aneurysms occur only rarely.
Race
No racial predilection is recognized.
Sex
Males and females are affected equally.
Age
HHT may occur in children, in whom a tendency to bleed may be the first symptom.3 However, HHT is far more common during puberty or adulthood. The syndrome most often manifests by the second or third decade of life. Pulmonary AVMs may be congenital and, therefore, diagnosed within the first year of life. The risk of GI tract bleeding increases in patients older than 50 years.
Clinical
History
- Recurrent epistaxis is the first symptom in 95% of patients with Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Patients usually have a family history of telangiectasia and recurrent bleeding in other family members. Bleeding may occur as often as every day or as infrequently as once a month. Blood transfusions are required in 10-30% of patients.
- Telangiectases often appear 1 year after the first episode of epistaxis.
- Telangiectases are not usually seen before puberty.
- Commonly, telangiectases are first noticed in those aged 20-40 years.
- Rarely, telangiectases are prominent in childhood.
- The mucous membranes are almost invariably involved.
- The risk of GI tract bleeding increases in patients aged approximately 50 years. Recurrent painless GI bleeding occurs in 10-40% of patients and generally occurs later in life than epistaxis. Patients may report abdominal pain, which may be due to thrombosis of alimentary AVMs.
- Pulmonary AVMs may cause enough right-to-left shunting to cause cyanosis, hypoxemia, and secondary polycythemia. Half the patients with pulmonary AVMs are asymptomatic.4
- Neurologic involvement occurs in 8-12% of patients with Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. Untreated patients have a 2% risk of stroke and 1% risk of brain abscess.5
- Visceral AVMs may be evident.6 Spinal ones represent a rare manifestation mainly affecting children. Acute paraplegia due to spinal arteriovenous fistula has been described.7 Examining any child with a family history of HHT for spinal AVMs may be wise to decrease the risk of neurological sequelae.
Physical
Obvious physical findings of Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), are limited to those in the skin and mucous membranes; however, physical finding may also be present in many other organs.
- Skin lesions begin as dark red lines or punctate, pulsating vascular papules the size of match heads. These may be found on the skin, oral mucosa, nasal mucosa, and conjunctiva.
- More rarely, skin lesions are star shaped and 1-3 mm in diameter; alternatively, they are nonpulsating telangiectases similar to those of araneus nevi.
- Characteristically, dark red lesions appear on the face, lips, ears, conjunctiva, trunk, forearms, hands, and fingers. They often are conspicuous in the nail beds.
Typical symptoms in a patient with Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome with red nodules and starry telangiectasia on the cheeks.
Close-up view of typical symptoms of patient with Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome with red nodules and starry telangiectasia on the lips.
Close-up view of typical symptoms in a patient with Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome with red nodules and starry telangiectasia on the cheeks.
- Almost invariably, all of the mucous membranes are involved, including membranes throughout the GI, respiratory, and urinary tracts and those in the nasal septum, oral cavity, and nasopharynx.
- Recurrent epistaxis is usually the presenting symptom. Recurrent epistaxis results in fatigue and anemia.
- Bleeding from the GI, respiratory, and urinary tracts may occur. It usually occurs by the third or fourth decade of life.
- Pulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses lead to fistulae; dyspnea, cyanosis, and clubbing of the fingers during adolescence reveal their presence.
- Hepatic arteriovenous anastomoses lead to hepatic enlargement, and cirrhosis may cause pain and cardiac failure.8
- CNS arteriovenous anastomoses and aneurysms may lead to paresthesia, stoke, brain abscess, or intracerebral hematoma with focal neurologic signs.
- In pregnant women with HHT, pulmonary arteriovenous malformations may cause life-threatening fetomaternal complications. Pulmonary hemorrhage can occur, compromising maternal and fetal health.
- The spleen may be enlarged in some patients.
Causes
Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), is a defect that is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion (see Pathophysiology). The homozygous condition is probably lethal. Currently, 2 loci have been identified that are associated with Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, one on 9q33-q34 and a second on 12q. Band 9q34 harbors the endoglin gene. Band 12q harbors activin receptorlike kinase 1 (ALK 1), which encodes for a surface receptor for the TGF-B superfamily of ligands.9
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References
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Further Reading
Keywords
Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, HHT, morbus Osler, Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, Rendu-Osler syndrome, Osler's disease, Osler disease
