Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • HHT Center of Excellence >
  • HHT Overview >
  • Treatment
HHT Center of Excellence
About Us
HHT Overview
Diagnosis
Symptoms
Treatment
For Patients
Research
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Experts
HHT Center of Excellence
About Us
HHT Overview
Diagnosis
Symptoms
Treatment
For Patients
Research
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Experts

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) Treatment

At the HHT Center of Excellence of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh, our clinical goals are to manage the current symptoms of HHT and to prevent the long-term complications including stroke and brain abscess.

We also focus on managing bleeding symptoms of HHT, most often in the nose or gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Contact Us

To make an appointment or refer a patient, call the HHT Center of Excellence at 412-648-6161,
or email us at PittHHT@upmc.edu.

Please let us know if the patient is under 18 so we can schedule care at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Preventive Screening and Treatment for HHT

Screening for lung and brain vascular malformations is the most important step in preventing neurological problems.

At the HHT Center, preventive screening tests include:

  • An echocardiogram (ultrasound) of the heart
  • An MRI of the brain

Treatments to Control Nose Bleeding (Epistaxis)

Nasal bleeding and internal bleeding from the GI tract are the most common sources of chronic HHT symptoms.

Careful attention to nasal humidification and lubrication is essential in the control of nose bleeding.  If this is not effective, our ENT specialists can destroy the vascular malformations with laser surgery.  

After laser surgery, the surgeons may inject a drug called bevacizumab (Avastin®) into the malformations to prevent the growth of new vessels.

Treatments to Control Gastrointestinal Bleeding

We treat bleeding from vascular malformations in the GI tract by destroying the bleeding vessels during endoscopy.

Treatment for Anemia

Anemia is a frequent problem in people with HHT due to nose bleeds and gastrointestinal bleeding.

We manage anemia with oral or intravenous iron replacement. Sometimes patients need blood transfusions.

Treatment for Pulmonary Ateriovenous Malformations

If you have lung vascular malformations, you may be referred to a specialist (called an interventional radiologist) for treatment.

These malformations are treated by blocking them off with coils (called embolization). This prevents blood clots and bacteria from passing through and causing strokes and brain abscesses.

Treatment of Brain Vascular Malformations

Treatment of brain vascular malformations may include:

  • Occlusion (blocking) with coils
  • Surgery
  • Radiosurgery

Treatment of Liver Complications

Vascular malformations can affect the liver. These require treatment only if they cause severe liver dysfunction or heart failure.

Liver transplant may be the best treatment option in these cases.

Additional Resources

Opens the Cure HHT websiteVascular Medicine Institute at the University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh Human Genetics Public Health Program
UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login