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Management of epistaxis in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia by Nd:YAG laser and quality of life assessment using the HR-QoL questionnaire

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the results of Nd:YAG laser application in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) patients and to measure the Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) in patients with HHT before and after Nd:YAG laser application in a prospective, clinical trial at a university hospital. Twenty-seven consecutive patients with HHT and mild to moderate degrees of epistaxis were followed-up for 2 years after Nd:YAG laser treatments. Recurrence of epistaxis after Nd:YAG laser application and measurement of HR-QoL using the International Quality of Life Assessment questionnaire, version 1.1 (IQOLA 1.1), was found. Eight patients (30%) received only one Nd:YAG laser treatment, 15 (56%) had a recurrence and received a second treatment and 4 (14%) had two recurrences and received three Nd:YAG laser treatments. HR-QoL was improved 2 years after the first Nd:YAG laser application in both its Physical Health Dimension (47.5±2.9 vs. 38.1±2.3 before treatment, P <0.05) and Mental Health Dimension (45.1±2.7 vs. 39.6±2.4 before treatment, P <0.05). Although no curative treatment for HHT exists, Nd:YAG laser treatment seems to constitute a simple and efficient method of epistaxis control, resulting in a significant improvement in quality of life.

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Correspondence to Vasilis Danielides.

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Karapantzos, I., Tsimpiris, N., Goulis, D.G. et al. Management of epistaxis in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia by Nd:YAG laser and quality of life assessment using the HR-QoL questionnaire. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 262, 830–833 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-004-0911-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-004-0911-0

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