Ocular manifestations in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Rendu-Osler-Weber disease): A case-series

Retinal telangiectasia-like lesions in a 15-year-old female with Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia – a case report

Background

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome is a bleeding disorder that can affect all parts of the body including the eyes. Different ocular abnormalities have been described in relation to HHT, but the pathogenesis of retinal involvement is still unknown. A few cases have described chorioretinal abnormalities primarily occurring in elderly patients. In this study, we present a unique case of a young female with known HHT and a series of retinal fundus images including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) with macular telangiectasia-like lesions.

Case presentation

A young female genetically diagnosed with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), is regularly attending retinal screening since she is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. At one visit, abnormal retinal telangiectasia-like lesions in the macula, are observed. These abnormalities are monitored over an extended period of time with fundus imaging, and further investigated with OCT and OCTA. The patient has no visual complaints at any time and best-corrected visual acuity is 20/20 Snellen equivalent in both eyes.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case to describe the occurrence of telangiectasia-like lesions in macula with secondary choriocapillaris atrophy in a patient diagnosed with HHT in such a young age.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-022-02658-7.

An update on the ophthalmic features in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome)

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) or Osler-Rendu-Weber syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disease, characterised by systemic angiodysplasia. Dysfunction of the signalling pathway of β transforming growth factor is the main cause of HHT principally owing to mutations of the genes encoding for endoglin (ENG) and activin A receptor type II-like 1 (ACVRL1). Clinical manifestations can range from mucocutaneous telangiectasia to organ arterio-venous malformations and recurrent epistaxis. The early clinical manifestations may sometimes be subtle, and diagnosis may be delayed. The main ophthalmic manifestations historically reported in HHT are haemorrhagic epiphora, and conjunctival telangiectasia present in 45-65% of cases, however, imaging with wide-field fluorescein angiography has recently shown peripheral retinal telangiectasia in 83% of patients. Optimal management of HHT requires both understanding of the clinical presentations and detection of early signs of disease. Advances in imaging methods in ophthalmology such as wide-field fluorescein angiography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and near infrared reflectance promise further insight into the ophthalmic signs of HHT towards improved diagnosis and early management of possible severe complications.

Ocular lesions in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: genetics and clinical characteristics

Background

The aim of our study is to study the association between eye lesions in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) and other signs of the disease, as well as to characterize its genetics.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted of a cohort of 206 patients studied in the HHT Unit of Hospital de Sierrallana, a reference centre for Spanish patients with HHT. Odds ratios for several symptoms or characteristics of HHT and ocular lesions were estimated using logistic regression adjusting for age and sex.

Results

The ocular involvement was associated with being a carrier of a mutation for the ENG gene, that is, suffering from a type 1 HHT involvement (OR = 2.09; 95% CI [1.17–3.72]). p = 0.012). In contrast, patients with ocular lesions have less frequently mutated ACVRL1/ALK1 gene (OR = 0.52; 95% CI [0.30–3.88], p = 0.022).

Conclusions

In conclusion, half of the patients with HHT in our study have ocular involvement. These eye lesions are associated with mutations in the ENG gene and ACVRL1/ALK1 gene. Thus, the ENG gene increases the risk of ocular lesions, while being a carrier of the mutated ACVRL1/ALK1 gene decreases said risk.

A Rare Coexistence of Isolated Unilateral Conjunctival Telangiectasia and Retinal Vascular Tortuosity

A 55-year-old woman with no known systemic disorder and without any history of ocular disease, trauma, and surgery presented with a nonremitting conjunctival redness on her left eye that was existing since her childhood. On ophthalmological examination, an extremely rare coexistence of isolated unilateral bulbar conjunctival telangiectasia and ipsilateral retinal vascular tortuosity without any systemic and neuroradiological association was detected. We aimed to demonstrate this rare vascular coexistence and discuss differential diagnosis of the underlying causes.

Identification of Retinal Vascular Lesions Using Ultra-Widefield Angiography in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Patients

PURPOSE

To determine the presence and to characterize location of retinal vascular lesions in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

DESIGN

Prospective cross-sectional pilot descriptive study.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighteen patients (age range, 22-65 years) with a clinical diagnosis of HHT.

METHODS

Patients completed the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire and underwent a single study visit with dilated ophthalmic examination, OCT angiography (OCTA), and fluorescein angiography (FA) with widefield imaging.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Presence of retinal vascular abnormalities in 1 or more quadrants identified on widefield FA, Visual Function Questionnaire scores, retinal vessel architecture on FA and OCTA, and dilated ophthalmic examination findings.

RESULTS

Of the 18 patients recruited, fine telangiectatic vessels with capillary dilation and tortuosity were identified in 78% by FA imaging.

CONCLUSIONS

In the first FA and OCTA analysis of the retina of unrelated HHT patients, we found a high rate of temporal and nasal telangiectasias. These telangiectasias were more apparent in older patients, suggesting that they may appear in later stages of HHT development. No abnormalities of the macular vasculature and architecture were identified, explaining the generally well-preserved visual acuity. Temporal and nasal telangiectasias may have clinical significance in a patient's risk for retinal hemorrhage and likely warrant periodic surveillance by annual FA imaging.

Vitreous hemorrhage as a clue to late presenting Pulmonary Arterio Venous Malformation

Retinal vasculature is frequently altered in systemic vascular disorders such as Diabetes and Hypertension. We present a rare case in which vitreous hemorrhage was the presenting sign of an underlying congenital cyanotic heart disease.

Rare manifestations in a case of Osler-Weber-Rendu disease

Osler-Weber-Rendu disease (OWRD) is a rare vascular dysplasia that presents most commonly with epistaxis. The most dreaded complication, however, is an intracranial haemorrhage. We present a patient with two rare manifestations of OWRD, subdural haematoma and portal venous hypertension, both seldom reported in the literature. The patient made a full recovery and continues to do well at this time.

Proliferative ischemic retinopathy after arteriovenous malformation embolization in a child with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

PURPOSE

To describe a case of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, presenting with multiple branch retinal artery occlusions, retinal ischemia, neovascularization, and vitreous hemorrhage after cerebral arteriovenous malformation embolization.

METHODS

The authors report a 7-year-old patient with decreased vision in his left eye after embolization of a pineal arteriovenous malformation secondary to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Ophthalmic evaluation, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, electroretinogram, examination under anesthesia, and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) were performed.

RESULTS

Fundus examination of the left eye revealed extensive posterior segment ischemia, vascular tortuosity, and vitreous hemorrhage. Fluorescein angiography was remarkable for partial obstruction of retinal arteries, midperipheral nonperfusion, and associated leakage from multiple areas of neovascularization. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography was normal. Electroretinogram demonstrated decreased b-wave amplitude. The patient was subsequently treated with 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy, panretinal endophotocoagulation, and intravitreal bevacizumab. Five weeks after surgery, best-corrected visual acuity had improved to 20/40, and examination showed resolution of vitreous hemorrhage and neovascularization.

CONCLUSION

Retinal vascular abnormalities, posterior segment ischemia, and vitreous hemorrhage suggested a combination of retinal involvement of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia complicated by nontarget embolization.

Endoglin and activin receptor-like kinase 1 heterozygous mice have a distinct pulmonary and hepatic angiogenic profile and response to anti-VEGF treatment

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular dysplasia associated with dysregulated angiogenesis and arteriovascular malformations. The disease is caused by mutations in endoglin (ENG; HHT1) or activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1; HHT2) genes, coding for transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily receptors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated in HHT and beneficial effects of anti-VEGF treatment were recently reported in HHT patients. To investigate the systemic angiogenic phenotype of Endoglin and Alk1 mutant mice and their response to anti-VEGF therapy, we assessed microvessel density (MVD) in multiple organs after treatment with an antibody to mouse VEGF or vehicle. Lungs were the only organ showing an angiogenic defect, with reduced peripheral MVD and secondary right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), yet distinctly associated with a fourfold increase in thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in Eng (+/-) versus a rise in angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in Alk1 (+/-) mice. Anti-VEGF treatment did reduce lung VEGF levels but interestingly, led to an increase in peripheral pulmonary MVD and attenuation of RVH; it also normalized TSP-1 and Ang-2 expression. Hepatic MVD, unaffected in mutant mice, was reduced by anti-VEGF therapy in heterozygous and wild type mice, indicating a liver-specific effect of treatment. Contrast-enhanced micro-ultrasound demonstrated a reduction in hepatic microvascular perfusion after anti-VEGF treatment only in Eng (+/-) mice. Our findings indicate that the mechanisms responsible for the angiogenic imbalance and the response to anti-VEGF therapy differ between Eng and Alk1 heterozygous mice and raise the need for systemic monitoring of anti-angiogenic therapy effects in HHT patients.