University Of Alabama At Birmingham’s Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Clinic named Center of Excellence

The Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Clinic at UAB Hospital has been named a Center of Excellence by the Cure HHT foundation. HHT is an uncommon but serious genetic disease that prevents blood vessels from developing properly. The condition can lead to stroke, heart failure, anemia and serious bleeding — most often from the nose.

The UAB HHT Clinic is led by co-directors Jesse Jones, M.D., assistant professor in the departments of Neurosurgery and Radiology, and Theresa Caridi, M.D., clinical associate professor for the department of Radiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology. The clinic provides comprehensive care for patients and families from childhood through adulthood.

“We are honored to be named a Center of Excellence by Cure HHT and look forward to promoting awareness, advocating for patients and their families, and continuing to provide comprehensive subspecialty care to Alabamians and HHT patients across the Deep South,” Jones said.

Recognition as an HHT CoE follows an application process and 18 months of training, mentorship and site visits from the Cure HHT team. Only hospitals equipped with the proper personnel, expertise, commitment and resources to provide comprehensive evaluation, treatment and education to individuals with HHT and their families receive this designation.

“Increasing access to HHT multidisciplinary care in the South has long been needed, and Drs. Jesse Jones and Theresa Caridi have put together a team of highly motivated and skilled physicians who are knowledgeable in the treatment of this disease,” said Marianne Clancy, executive director of Cure HHT. “They will make a tremendous impact in the lives of patients in Alabama and the surrounding areas. We are thrilled to take another step in making specialized care more accessible to more patients around the world.”

While there is no cure for HHT, there are several effective treatments. The UAB clinic includes specialists from the UAB departments of Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology, Radiology and Genetics and the divisions of Cardiovascular Disease, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine. The specialists can treat HHT-related problems that may develop in the brain and spine, such as AVM, as well as manage pulmonary arteriovenous malformation, nosebleeds, heart problems, bleeding from the gut and anemia. Genetic testing is also offered to patients and their families.