Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia and SMAD4 mutation in a patient with complex single ventricle heart disease

Cardiol Young. 2023 Dec;33(12):2667-2669. doi: 10.1017/S104795112300344X. Epub 2023 Oct 9.

Abstract

We report a case of hypoplastic left heart syndrome and with subsequent aortopathy and then found to have hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia/juvenile polyposis syndrome due to a germline SMAD4 pathologic variant. The patient's staged palliation was complicated by the development of neoaortic aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and gastrointestinal bleeding thought to be secondary to Fontan circulation, but workup revealed a SMAD4 variant consistent with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia/juvenile polyposis syndrome. This case underscores the importance of genetic modifiers in CHD, especially those with Fontan physiology.

Keywords: Fontan; Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia; SMAD 4; aortopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Heart Diseases* / complications
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Polyposis / congenital
  • Mutation
  • Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary
  • Smad4 Protein / genetics
  • Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic* / complications
  • Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic* / diagnosis
  • Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic* / genetics
  • Univentricular Heart* / complications

Substances

  • SMAD4 protein, human
  • Smad4 Protein

Supplementary concepts

  • Juvenile polyposis syndrome