Nationwide Awareness Campaign and Call for Dental Screening for Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia in Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare disorder encompassing facial and oral telangiectasias and visceral vascular malformations (VMs). Pulmonary VMs can lead to paradoxical embolism of thrombi or bacteria, e.g., due to dental procedures. Early detection can reduce morbidity and mortality and is recommended. However, diagnosis is often delayed for decades. Our study is assessing the feasibility and effect of a nationwide awareness campaign for early diagnosis of HHT addressing all dentists in Germany.

Methods

In 2018, one article and two reminders about HHT were published in a nationwide awareness campaign. As a proxy for the effectiveness of the campaign, researchers measured the number of first-time inquiries from patients and physicians about HHT

SUBMITTER: Geisthoff UW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9938772 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature