Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare, hereditary multisystem vascular disease of disordered angiogenesis. Pathologic elevations in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) result in fragile, abnormal vessels in nasal and GI mucosa leading to chronic epistaxis and GI bleeding, anemia that is frequently severe and transfusion-dependent, and diminished quality of life.
Bevacizumab is a recombinant, humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody that neutralizes circulating VEGF and is a potential targeted therapy in HHT. Hanny Al-Samkari, MD will describe the revolutionary potential of anti-angiogenic therapy in HHT and the evidence to date for systemic bevacizumab as a treatment for bleeding and anemia in HHT.
Presenter:
Hanny Al-Samkari, MD
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Instructor in Medicine and KL2 Scholar, Harvard Medical School