The Combat Against The Hippel-Lindau Disease

The Hippel-Lindau disease, or more specifically, the Von Hippel-Lindau disease, is a genetic disease that can cause one or more benign tumors in the body. This disease is characterized by an abnormal growth of the blood vessels. The blood vessels in our body grow like trees. However, for those who have the Hippel-Lindau disease, it grows with little knots of capillaries instead.

The Hippel-Lindau syndrome is considered a rare disease. Research had shown that it only affects only one person per two thousand. But even though that is the case, it can have very severe complications that may cause death.

Symptoms of Hippel-Lindau Disease
One common symptom of the Hippel-Lindau disease is hemangiomas. Hemangiomas are the tumors that developed as a result of the blood vessel’s abnormal growth. There are two common hemangiomas associated with the Hippel-Lindau disease. These are the eye hemanigomas and cerebellum hemangiomas.

Its other symptoms will depend as to where the tumors had developed. But generally, headaches and problems in balance and walking are observed on the patient. They will also feel dizzy and there will be some weakness in their limbs. Vision problems and high blood pressure are also expected to occur.

Diagnosis for Hippel-Lindau Disease
When these symptoms come about, the diagnosis for the Hippel-Lindau disease should be performed. But usually, doctors need to check the patient against these three criteria: first, is there more than a single tumor in the eye or the brain? Second, is there a tumor in the eye or brain plus another somewhere else in the body, maybe in the adrenal glands, pancreas, liver, or kidney? And third, is there any specific family history of the disease on the patient, plus the presence of any of the above-mentioned tumors?

If those criteria hold true, the diagnosis should be patterned in accordance with the detected Hippel-Lindau disease. Usually, patients need to undergo eye tests and opthalmoscopic examinations. Brain CAT scans may also be done for an even more accurate detection of the disease.

Today, genetic testing is available. And since the Hippel-Lindau disease is highly hereditary, this method maybe required by families who have a history of the disease. The children of parents who are diagnosed positive with the Hippel-Lindau disease have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the disease from their parents.

Treatment for Hippel-Lindau Disease
Once this disease is accurately diagnosed, treatment should follow. Doctors would usually perform treatment on the tumors developed on the eyes first, if in case the tumors are indeed concentrated there. Laser eye surgery and cryosurgery may be done. For tumors on the other parts of the body, a specific surgical tumor removal is conducted. Irradiation is also a method that doctors can carry out.

Some mild tumors, on the other hand, need not to be removed surgically, unless of course, they are deterring the functions of the organ that they had affected. Patients of this disease have to undergo regular physical examinations. They should also be subjected to MRI or CT scans whenever possible so that new tumors are discovered in time. And because eye tumors are likely to develop, eye examinations should be performed as a part of the treatment regime.

If the Hippel-Lindau disease is left untreated, it may bring about blindness in a person, or in more severe instances, it can cause permanent brain damage. This is why the early detection of this disease is critical. And as stated earlier, the complications of these diseases may cause death, especially if the patient suffered from kidney cancer and brain tumors because of the disease.