Gastrointestinal manifestations of hereditary haemorrhagic teleangiectasia

Six out of 34 patients with gastrointestinal manifestations of hereditary haemorrhagic teleangiectasis (HHT) were found retrospectively. The diagnosis was established clinically, endoscopically, angiographically and/or at surgery. Major bleeding episodes originated from lesions in the stomach and duodenum. A few cases were also encountered with teleangiectasia in the small and large intestine and occasionally in the liver and lung. Repeated treatment with electrocoagulation was effective in controlling gastrointestinal bleeding in two of the patients. It is concluded that HHT should be considered as a potential cause of repeated and unexplained GI bleedings and that this diagnosis also should be kept in mind in patients with recurrent epistaxis.