Drug-Induced Epistaxis?

To assess the aetiological contribution made to spontaneous epistaxis in adults over the age of 50 years by various groups of drugs, a controlled study was designed. Fifty-three consecutive epistaxis patients were compared with 50 controls. Significant differences were found between the groups in their consumption of warfarin, dipyridamole and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Hypertension was equally common in the two groups, but tended to be less well controlled in the epistaxis patients compared to the controls. It is thought that the link between the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the occurrence of epistaxis may be due to alteration of platelet function.