Clinical Research Directory

Non-Invasive Detection of Pulmonary Right-to-Left Shunts Using the SONAS Ultrasound Device

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how well the SONAS ultrasound device can detect right-to-left shunts of adults with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) who are already scheduled for a contrast bubble echocardiogram (TTCE). The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. How accurately does SONAS detect right-to-left shunts compared to the standard TTCE test? 2. Can SONAS results help tell the difference between shunts in the heart and shunts in the lungs? Participants will wear a headband with the SONAS device on the head while they undergo their routine TTCE bubble test. They will receive the usual contrast (agitated saline) through a vein, and both SONAS and TTCE signals will be recorded at the same time. There will be one examination in rest, and one during a breathing exercise (the Valsalva manoeuvre).

Immunological Effects of Iron Supplementation in HHT Disease

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), is a rare genetic vascular disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance. Its prevalence is estimated at approximately 1 in 6,000 individuals in France. Clinical manifestations include recurrent nosebleeds (epistaxis), cutaneous telangiectasias, and visceral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) that may affect the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and brain. Beyond vascular abnormalities, patients often present with a decrease in circulating T lymphocytes (T-cell lymphopenia), which can be profound but remains unexplained. There is also a distinct infectious risk profile associated with the disease: brain abscesses in the presence of pulmonary AVMs (pAVMs), and osteoarticular infections in patients with the longest durations of epistaxis. However, no definitive correlation has been established between T-cell lymphopenia and infection risk. Iron-deficiency anemia is a frequent complication in HHT, affecting about 50% of patients, with a mean age of onset around 36 years. Its prevalence increases with age. These patients typically require prolonged and high-dose iron supplementation, administered either orally or intravenously, which may expose them to side effects not observed in other clinical contexts. In a previous study, we identified a correlation between the level of iron supplementation (none, oral, or intravenous) and the severity of T-cell lymphopenia. This association may be explained by two potential mechanisms linking iron metabolism to immune function: * A direct toxic effect of iron on immune system homeostasis * Impaired lymphocyte production resulting from iron deficiency, with the type of supplementation serving as an indirect marker of deficiency severity We propose a prospective study designed to differentiate between these two hypotheses. The aim of the study is to characterize the impact of iron deficiency and iron supplementation on the immune system of patients with HHT.

Evaluation of Video-assisted Instructions of Nasal Self-packing in Patients with HHT

Inserting nasal self-packings is a secure method leaving patients more self-confident. We provide a video on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaioLYfSJ-E demonstrating how to use nasal self-packings.