Nd:YAG laser treatment of recurrent epistaxis in heredity hemorrhagic telangiectasia.
OBJECTIVE
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an inherited abnormality passed down as a dominant autosomal feature. Recurrent epistaxis usually constitutes the major clinical manifestation of this disease. The unsatisfactory results of conservative therapy have stimulated a research interest for the role of laser photocoagulation in telangiectatic vessels associated with this clinical entity.


METHODS
The Nd:YAG laser was used to treat a group of 11 individuals suffering from HHT, all of whom had been previously treated using other modalities.


CONCLUSIONS
The excellent results of Nd:YAG laser irradiation are addressed in view of all treatment modalities proposed for the treatment of recurrent epistaxis in HHT.
Velegrakis
G A
GA
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Greece.
Prokopakis
E P
EP
Papadakis
C E
CE
Helidonis
E S
ES
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013683:Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome