Serious Symptoms Of Ataxia-Telangiectasia

Small Dilated Blood Vessels

An individual affected by ataxia-telangiectasia may present with small dilated blood vessels or telangiectasias. Small dilated blood vessels appear at the surface of an affected individual's mucous membranes and skin. These small blood vessels appear as red or pink lines that blanch, or turn white when pressure is placed on them. These vessels appear in clusters or alone and typically take on a corkscrew-like shape. The most prevalent areas of the body where small dilated blood vessels form in ataxia-telangiectasia patients are in the whites of the eyes, neck, ears, and extremities. At first, the small dilated blood vessels in a patient's eyes may be mistaken for eyes that are bloodshot as a result of allergies or pink eye. Small dilated blood vessels are a symptom rarely found in infants affected by ataxia-telangiectasia and are not common among very young children who are affected. Areas of skin that are regularly exposed to sunlight are at a greater susceptibility for developing small dilated blood vessels. While this symptom typically does not pose any medical issues for the patient, the telangiectasia may be cosmetically unappealing.

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