Bevacizumab as a treatment for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia in children: a case report

Abstract

Case description: Five-year-old female patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.Clinical Findings: Deterioration of cardiopulmonary function with higher oxygen requirements secondary to pulmonary arteriovenous shunts, epistaxis.Treatment and Outcome: The patient was treated with the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab, which inhibits the vascular endothelial growth factor, with good clinical outcome.Clinical Relevance: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by arteriovenous malformations in different organs, making its clinical presentations varied. Systemic therapeutic options for a generalized disease are limited. The monoclonal antibody bevacizumab, seems to be a good option in this disorder. Although reported as successful in adult population, its use in pediatric population has not yet been reported. Here we report the use of bevacizumab in a 5-year-old female patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, showing clinical benefits and good outcome.