Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
Definition
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is a condition characterized by abnormal blood vessels which are delicate and prone to bleeding. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu disease.
Description
The term telangiectasia refers to a spot formed, usually on the skin, by a dilated capillary or terminal artery. Telangiectasia is an arterial-venous malformation (AVM) composed of small blood vessels. In hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia these spots occur because the blood vessel is fragile and bleeds easily. The bleeding may appear as small, red or reddish-violet spots on the face, lips, inside the mouth and nose, or the tips of the fingers and toes. Besides the skin and mouth, telangiectasias may occur in the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), the...
[The entire page is 886 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
