Life expectancy in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.

BACKGROUND There are few data on life expectancy in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), a disorder with life-threatening complications. METHODS Seventy HHT patients provided data on age and age at death of their HHT-affected parent, which was compared with that of the parent's non-affected partner. RESULTS At the time of the study, 40 HHT parents (57.1%) vs. 36 (51.4%) non-HHT parents had died (p = 0.404). Median age at death was lower in HHT vs. non-HHT parents (63.2 vs. 70.0 years, respectively). The mortality of HHT parents showed an early peak in the under 50s and a late peak at 60-79 years. HHT was the main risk factor influencing life expectancy after 30 years (p < 0.05). No differences in survival probability were found in HHT patients with respect to sex (p = 0.37), or ENG vs. ALK-1 genotype (p < 0.9). DISCUSSION Life expectancy appears to be significantly lower in HHT patients than in their partners. Prevention of HHT complications with screening programs could increase life expectancy.