English Cologne HHT Center
Welcome to the website of the Cologne HHT Center
The Cologne HHT Center is a multidisciplinary center of the Hospitals of the City of Cologne (Kliniken der Stadt Köln) devoted to the evaluation and treatment of patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT, Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome). We invite you to browse our site to learn more about HHT and the care available in Germany.
About HHT
HHT is a hereditary disorder. This means that it is passed down through generations. However, there are also some patients without affected ancestors (“de-novo-mutations”). The genetic lesions in HHT lead to the development of abnormal blood vessels. The abnormal vessels can be small (telangiectases) or large (vascular malformations, VMs, arteriovenous malformations AVMs). Telangiectases most commonly occur on the skin of the face and hands and the lining of the nose, mouth and digestive tract. Telangictases can bleed: Nosebleed (epistaxis) is the most common symptom of HHT. Bleedings from the digestive tract are often less obvious but can cause high blood losses. Some people with HHT will also have vascular malformations (VMs) in one or more organ. E.g. VMs occurring in the lungs and the brain are often without symptoms for long terms but can suddenly cause serious complications. Therefore most specialized centres and the HHT Foundation International recommend that everyone with HHT should undergo screening for lung and brain VMs because if these are detected, they can be treated. This should be done at a specialized HHT centre.
More detailed information about HHT can be obtained through the HHT Foundation International at the following link: http://www.hht.org or through the German-speaking self-help group: www.morbus-osler.de . They offer to download a film in English about HHT without charge (go to “ Informationsmaterial”). Additional information in German can also be found here
The Cologne HHT Centre
The Cologne HHT Centre was established at the Hospitals of the City of Cologne to provide a multidisciplinary state-of-the-art care for HHT patients and their families.
The departments mainly involved are:
The Cologne HHT Centre is recognized as a specialized HHT Centre by the HHT Foundation International.
Contact / making an appointment
The Hospitals of the City of Cologne frequently welcome patients from other countries and continents and offer assistance with travel arrangements (please see also accommodation and travel below). Every effort will be made to coordinate visits to ensure that patients receive all the appropriate evaluations and treatments in the most efficient manner possible. To schedule an appointment or for more information call + 49 221 8907-12727 or email to hentschelm@kliniken-koeln.de.
Cologne and accommodation
Cologne is a very old but vivid and beautiful city. Its cathedral – the Dom - is one of the world’s most famous buildings. Please find out more about Cologne on the website of Cologne Tourism Board http://www.koelntourismus.de/ This site also contains a part about accommodation.
Fotos: Kölntourismus
Travel to Cologne and the Hospitals of the City of Cologne
Cologne can be reached by plane via its international airport CGN - Cologne Bonn Konrad Adenauer. Additionally it is also very convenient to travel through Frankfurt, Germany (FRA-All Airports). A fast track train connects this airport directly to the main station in the heart of Cologne. Connections can be seen and booked on the site of the German railway system (Deutsche Bahn).
Please note that the name “ Cologne” equals “Köln” or “Koeln” in German. Cologne main station is “ Koeln Hbf” on the railway site.
Starting from the Cologne airport or from the main train station you can either use a taxi which will take about 20 to 30 minutes or go by public transport (see below). Please note to tell the taxi driver to go to the Hospitals of the City of Cologne = “Kliniken der Stadt Koeln” and chose if you would like to go to “Holweide Hospital”, “Merheim Hospital” or “Children´s Hospital Amsterdamer Straße”. Please find more information about the location of these three hospitals on the top of this site. Regarding public transport: You can either use the local public transport site (http://www.kvb-koeln.de) or the site of the German railway system (Deutsche Bahn).
Please enter the following names for different addresses:
- Holweide Hospital: Neufelder Strasse
- Merheim Hospital: Ostmerheimer Strasse
- Children´s Hospital Amsterdamer Straße: Kinderkrankenhaus
- Cologne main station: Koeln Hbf
- Cologne airport: Koeln Flughafen
- Frankfurt airport: Frankfurt Flughafen
Please contact us in case that you should encounter difficulties with your travel planning. We will be happy to assist you.