title: Management of epistaxis in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia by Nd:YAG laser and quality of life assessment using the HR-QoL questionnaire.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Demokritous University of Thrace, Ioakim Kaviri 6, 68100, Alexandroupoli, Greece.
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karapantzos
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsimpiris
authors.forename: Dimitrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Goulis
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Hoecke
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Cauwenberge
authors.forename: Vasilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Danielides
mesh_terms: D004844:Epistaxis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013683:Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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