title: Von Hippel-Lindau disease: an evaluation of natural history and functional disability.
abstract: Although many studies have been published about specific lesions characterizing von Hippel-Lindau(VHL) disease, none have dealt with the natural history of the whole disease and the consequent disabilities. We aim to define the comprehensive natural history of VHL disease and to describe the functional disabilities and their impact upon patients' quality of life, thereby tailoring the follow-up schedule accordingly.
  
  
  
  We performed a prospective analysis on 128 VHL-affected patients beginning in 1996. For each affected organ, we defined intervals between the first and subsequent VHL-related manifestations and compared them with current VHL surveillance protocols. We looked for any association of the number of involved organs with age, sex, type of VHL gene mutation, and functional domain mutation. Ultimately, we assessed the organ-specific disabilities caused by VHL disease.
  
  
  
  Hemangioblastomas show different patterns of progression depending on their location, whereas both renal cysts and carcinomas have similar progression rates. Surgery for pheochromocytoma and CNS hemangioblastoma is performed earlier than for pancreatic or renal cancer. The number of involved organs is associated with age but not with sex, type of VHL gene mutation, or functional domain mutation. A thorough analysis of functional disabilities showed that age is related to the first-appearing functional impairment, but it is not predictive of the final number of disabilities.
  
  
  
  Our study defines the disease progression and provides a comprehensive view of the syndrome over time. We analyzed for the first time the functional disability of VHL patients, assessing the progression for each function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Mariagiulia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anglani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scarpa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schiavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boaretto
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zovato
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taschin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zanoletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piermarocchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murgia
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pavesi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, NOCSAE Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy (A.F., G.P.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, Section of Radiology, University of Padova, Italy (M.A.); Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (B.S.); Familial Cancer Clinic and Oncoendocrinology, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Padova, Italy (F.S., F.B., S.Z., E.T., G.O.); Department of Urology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio, Padova, Italy (M.G.); Department of Neurosciences, Otosurgery Unit, University of Padova, Italy (E.Z.); Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (S.P.); Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neurology Unit, University of Padova, Italy (A.M.); Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Italy (G.O.).
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opocher
mesh_terms: D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D018325:Hemangioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D006623:von Hippel-Lindau Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: VHL; disability; follow-up; functional impairment; natural history