CURE HHT OFFICIAL HEALTH UPDATES
COVID-19

Yes. There is no HHT-related reason to avoid the COVID vaccination. The COVID vaccination should be as safe and as effective for people with HHT as the general population. Some people with HHT may be at higher risk of getting really sick or dying from COVID, so the benefits should outweigh the risks.

Facemasks, social distancing and hand washing are the most important precautions to take.

Some locations have oral swabs (saliva testing) but the accuracy of the test may be lower because there is a lower viral load in saliva compared to in the nasal cavity. Additional information concerning testing can be found under the August 6, 2020 official update.

It is doubtful that susceptibility is increased. There may be more potential exposure to COVID-19 because HHT patients often require more interactions with the healthcare system, and may manipulate the nose more often.

We do not know for sure if having HHT puts patients in the "high-risk" category for HHT. However, patients are probably not at much higher risk unless the individual has other predisposing conditions like heart failure, chronic hypoxemia, etc.

COVID-19 impacts HHT patients essentially the same as it affects anyone else.

HHT patients only need to be hospitalized for the same reasons that non-HHT patients need to be hospitalized:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest.
• New confusion or inability to arouse.
• Bluish lips or face.

Yes, please do. HHT Physicians can not only help advise you, but also learn from HHT patients about the course of COVID-19 in HHT.

COVID-19 can affect bleeding and thrombosis in unpredictable ways. There have been instances of COVID-related bleeding and many cases of COVID-related thrombosis. However, we have not seen any definite effect on bleeding in HHT.

In severe/hospitalized cases of HHT, DVT risk is up to 20% and PE risk up to 10%. Data are less clear in milder cases, but there may be some increased clotting risk in milder cases as well.

There is a thrombosis risk with Avastin, which is small (1-2%)

A few studies have suggested that patients with Vitamin D and/or Vitamin K deficiency may have worse outcomes with COVID-19. If you are not deficient, taking Vitamin K may not help, but it may not hurt either.

We do not have evidence as to whether or not individuals with coiled PAVMs are more susceptible to COVID-19. However, the underlying lung is normal and immunity is unaffected.

There is a potential risk if an HHT patient has uncoiled PAVMs due to the high incidence of thrombosis (especially in severe cases of COVID-19), and the risk that the PAVM could transmit a blood clot causing a stroke or other problem. The risk is probably very low in small PAVMs.

Patients with PH and HHT would be considered part of the high-risk group. Learn more by visiting the PHA Website.