Investigation of Plasma Proteins in Patients With Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia and PAVMs...
TelangiectasiaHereditary HemorrhagicHereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT, also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu Syndrome) is an disease that leads to the development of dilated and fragile blood vessels, including arteriovenous malformations in the lungs (PAVMs). We hypothesize that the genetically-determined abnormality in the blood vessels of HHT patients leads to alteration in the concentrations or activity of several proteins in the blood stream. We propose to take blood samples from patients at defined times in order to study changes in blood protein levels and activity
Susceptibility to Infections in Ataxia Telangiectasia
Ataxia TelangiectasiaInfections2 moreDeath in Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is usually due to cancer or chronic lung failure around 20 years of age. Despite low lymphocyte counts (CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD19), IgA and IgG subclass deficiency opportunistic and acute severe respiratory infections are rare. The prevailing wisdom is that an immunoglobulin replacement therapy is not necessary in most of the patients. However no placebo controlled trials have been performed so far. The aim of this trial was to investigate the prevalence of mild and severe respiratory infections and / or chronic cough in classical A-T patients compared to healthy controls.
Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia Flight Safety Study
Hereditary Haemorrhagic TelangiectasiaHereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is a condition in which sufferers have abnormal blood vessels which makes them more likely to bleed than other people, particularly in the lungs, which results in low blood oxygen levels. Flying may make this worse and cause problems. The investigators want to know if there are an increased number of problems on flights compared to on land. The investigators currently do not have any evidence based guidelines on air travel to best advice people who suffer with HHT. The investigators would therefore like to ask individuals who have HHT about their experience on a flight, using a postal questionnaire.
Pancreatic Cancer Screening of High-Risk Individuals in Arkansas
Pancreatic NeoplasmsPeutz-Jegher's Syndrome7 more100 subjects who have a family history of pancreatic cancer (PC), or known genetic syndromes associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer, will be followed for five years. This data will be used to determine the pancreatic cancer and precancerous lesion detection rate in High Risk Individuals (HRIs). Subjects may agree to annual imaging and annual biomarkers or to biomarkers only.
Genetic Factors of Idiopathic Polypoidal Vasculopathies in the ATM Gene (Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated)...
Choroidal NeovascularizationPolypoidal choriodal vasculopathy (PCV) is an ophthalmologic disease, characterized by vascular abnormalities of the walls of small choroidal vessels, reproducing the specific aspect of polyps (cluster aspect). PCV is one of the "boundary-forms" of age related macular degeneration. These vasculopathies can be idiopathic. Following the radiotherapy treatments of active and occult-typed neovessels in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), 10% of the patients would present typical polypoidal vasculopathic lesions. These polypoidal secondary lesions have been induced by radiotherapy treatment and may show an increased sensibility to radiation in these patients. Such an increase of radiosensibility is noticed in ataxia telangiectasia syndrome, in relation to the ATM gene mutations. The secondary or idiopathic polypoidal vasculopathic lesions are to be brought closer to telangiectasias in Ataxia Telangiectasia. Considering the iatrogenic component of radiotherapy in the secondary forms of ataxia telangiectasia, it seems legitimate to search for predisposing variants to polypoidal vasculopathies in the ATM gene. Considering the frequency of PCV worldwide, it seems important to identify the predisposing genetic factors of the ATM gene. These biomarkers to the pathology might enable us to offer prevention (reinforced protection against radiations, including light) and to develop therapeutics (recruitment of other kinases, ATM's partners, in the stability and cellular control of DNA).
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing to Evaluate Pulmonary AVMs With and Without Airflow Obstruction...
Pulmonary Arteriovenous MalformationsHereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia2 morePulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are a rare vascular condition affecting the lungs. PAVMs lead to low blood oxygen levels, yet are very well tolerated by patients. This study will examine the exercise capacity of PAVM patients using formal cardiopulmonary exercise tests performed on a stationary bicycle, and whether this is affected by the presence of concurrent airflow obstruction, such as due to asthma.
Study of Endothelial Cells in Patients With Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia
TelangiectasiaHereditary HemorrhagicHereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT, also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu Syndrome) is an disease that leads to the development of dilated and fragile blood vessels. We propose to culture endothelial cells from patients with HHT, to culture cells that express the proteins mutated in HHT, namely endoglin and ALK-1. We will study the properties of these cells which will involve their growth in different conditions and anticipate that DNA, mRNA and proteins will be extracted from these cells for study of cell responses and association with expression levels of endoglin and ALK-1. We hypothesize that these cells which express "half-normal" endoglin or ALK-1 will show altered protein synthetic differences when compared to normal white blood cells. We anticipate that that these findings may help to explain aspects of the HHT disease phenotype.
Immunmodulation in Patients With HHT
Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT)Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, is an inherited multisystemic disorder. Literature suggests that HHT is often associated with higher frequency of infectious diseases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a variety of immunologic parameters in the blood serum of HHT patients in comparison to probands.
Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations (PAVMs) in Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT)
Hereditary Haemorrhagic TelangiectasiaPulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation1 moreComputed tomography (CT) is the modality of choice to characterize pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). The objective of this study was to determine if CT findings were associated with frequency of brain abscess and ischaemic stroke. This retrospective study included patients with HHT-related PAVMs. CT results, PAVM presentation (unique, multiple, disseminated or diffuse), the number of PAVMs and the largest feeding artery size, were correlated to prevalence of ischaemic stroke and brain abscess.
Susceptibility to Infections, Tumor Risk and Liver Disease in Patients With Ataxia Telangiectasia...
Ataxia TelangiectasiaAtaxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare devastating human recessive disorder characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, immunodeficiency, chromosomal instability and cancer susceptibility. The immunodeficiency is expressed by recurring infections. It's characterised by decreased lymphocytes data as well as lack of immunglobulin A, immunglobulin G subclasses and specific antibodies against pneumococcus. Aim of the present clinical trial is to investigate frequency-, intensity- and duration of the infections as well as changes oft immune status, dimension of liver disease and tumor risk in patients with A-T, with and without immunoglobulin G substitution therapy. Transient elastography (FibroScan) will be performed in order to measure liver stiffness as an indication of fatty liver and liver fibrosis. A bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is conducted to investigate the exact body composition. Ataxia Score is determined to define neurological problems. Every subject receives a diary to compile symptoms of infection.