What clinical sign indicates hereditary telangiectasia?

What clinical sign indicates hereditary telangiectasia?

• A. Severe bleeding
• B. Blanching on pressure
• C. Visible bruising
• D. Excessive sweating

Answer: (B)

Hereditary telangiectasia, also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, is characterized by the presence of abnormal, widened blood vessels (telangiectasia) that are visible on the skin and mucous membranes. These vascular lesions typically blanch on pressure, which means that when you apply pressure to them, the redness temporarily fades. This blanching occurs because the vessels are dilated and filled with blood; when pressure is applied, the blood is momentarily displaced, leading to the temporary loss of color. This clinical sign is significant as it helps differentiate telangiectasia from other vascular lesions that may not blanch, such as some types of birthmarks or more aggressive vascular malformations. Recognizing this sign is essential for clinicians when diagnosing hereditary telangiectasia, particularly in patients presenting with recurrent nosebleeds or gastrointestinal bleeding due to the fragile nature of these blood vessels. The other options, though they might indicate other conditions, do not specifically relate to hereditary telangiectasia in terms of diagnostic signs.

Hereditary telangiectasia, also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, is characterized by the presence of abnormal, widened blood vessels (telangiectasia) that are visible on the skin and mucous membranes. These vascular lesions typically blanch on pressure, which means that when you apply pressure to them, the redness temporarily fades. This blanching occurs because the vessels are dilated and filled with blood; when pressure is applied, the blood is momentarily displaced, leading to the temporary loss of color.

This clinical sign is significant as it helps differentiate telangiectasia from other vascular lesions that may not blanch, such as some types of birthmarks or more aggressive vascular malformations. Recognizing this sign is essential for clinicians when diagnosing hereditary telangiectasia, particularly in patients presenting with recurrent nosebleeds or gastrointestinal bleeding due to the fragile nature of these blood vessels. The other options, though they might indicate other conditions, do not specifically relate to hereditary telangiectasia in terms of diagnostic signs.