Sex differences and risk factors for bleeding in Alagille syndrome

Spontaneous bleeds are a leading cause of death in the pediatric JAG1-related liver disease Alagille syndrome (ALGS). We asked whether there are sex differences in bleeding events in patients, whether Jag1(Ndr/Ndr) mice display bleeds or vascular defects, and whether discovered vascular pathology can be confirmed in patients non-invasively. We performed a systematic review of patients with ALGS and vascular events following PRISMA guidelines, in the context of patient sex, and found significantly more girls than boys reported with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. We investigated vascular development, homeostasis, and bleeding in Jag1(Ndr/Ndr) mice, using retina as a model. Jag1(Ndr/Ndr) mice displayed sporadic brain bleeds, a thin skull, tortuous blood vessels, sparse arterial smooth muscle cell coverage in multiple organs, which could be aggravated by hypertension, and sex-specific venous defects. Importantly, we demonstrated that retinographs from patients display similar characteristics with significantly increased vascular tortuosity. In conclusion, there are clinically important sex differences in vascular disease in ALGS, and retinography allows non-invasive vascular analysis in patients. Finally, Jag1(Ndr/Ndr) mice represent a new model for vascular compromise in ALGS.

Automated summary

This study found significant sex differences in spontaneous bleeding events reported by ALGS patients, with more girls than boys experiencing intracranial hemorrhage. Jag1(Ndr/Ndr) mice displayed various vascular defects, and retinography proved to be a non-invasive method to analyze vascular changes in patients.