Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular autosomically inherited rare disease. Epistaxis (nose bleeds) is the most common symptom in HHT, leading to anemia and affecting the patient's quality of life. In addition to epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding (GI), more often at older ages, may lead to severe anemia and the need for blood transfusions. Thus, finding drugs to control both types of bleeding is a primary necessity in HHT.Methods
A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in a series of 11 HHT patients treated with low tacrolimus doses (0.5-2 mg/day) on an off-label prescription basis. Patients showed refractory bleeding to previous treatments. The epistaxis severity score (ESS) and hemoglobin levels were the parameters used to evaluate the impact of tacrolimus. The occurrence of side effects was also recorded.Results
Tacrolimus was well tolerated in all of the patients except 2 (who stopped the treatment). The remaining patients tolerated the treatment, with a general improvement in their health condition. Epistaxis was significantly reduced when comparing the ESS before and after the treatment. Hemoglobin levels significantly increased, overcoming the anemia, during the course of the treatment.Conclusion
Tacrolimus at low doses should be considered as a promising treatment for epistaxis and gastrointestinal bleeding in HHT.
SUBMITTER: Alvarez-Hernandez P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10706934 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Álvarez-Hernández Paloma P Patier José Luis JL Marcos Sol S Gómez Del Olmo Vicente V Lorente-Herraiz Laura L Recio-Poveda Lucía L Botella Luisa María LM Viteri-Noël Adrián A Albiñana Virginia V
Journal of clinical medicine 20231129 23
<h4>Background</h4>Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular autosomically inherited rare disease. Epistaxis (nose bleeds) is the most common symptom in HHT, leading to anemia and affecting the patient's quality of life. In addition to epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding (GI), more often at older ages, may lead to severe anemia and the need for blood transfusions. Thus, finding drugs to control both types of bleeding is a primary necessity in HHT.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectiona ...[more]