title: Anti-estrogen therapy for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia - a long-term clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is associated with recurrent epistaxis in 90% of the cases. Good response to hormone treatment has been documented, although its use remains controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of an anti-estrogenic agent, tamoxifen, in the treatment of HHT-associated epistaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of 46 patients with diagnosis of epistaxis due to HHT who started treatment with tamoxifen 20 mg/d, 38 patients completed a mean of 23.4 months of treatment. All patients filled out a self-assessment questionnaire of rhinologic Quality of Life and epistaxis grading scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bleeding score and the Quality of Life score improved. Hemoglobin concentration also improved. None of the patients needed blood transfusions during the treatment period. Only one patient had minor side effects of the drug.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tamoxifen appears to be an effective agent for the treatment of epistaxis due to HHT.
authors: Nose and Sinus Institute, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqwa and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. docyaniv@yahoo.com
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Yaniv
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Preis
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Shevro
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Nageris
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Hadar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013683:Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D013629:Tamoxifen