Premium
Prospective randomized trial of sclerotherapy vs standard treatment for epistaxis due to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
Author(s) -
Boyer Holly,
Fernandes Patricia,
Le Chap,
Yueh Bevan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international forum of allergy and rhinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.503
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 2042-6984
pISSN - 2042-6976
DOI - 10.1002/alr.21484
Subject(s) - medicine , sclerotherapy , telangiectasia , randomized controlled trial , tolerability , surgery , prospective cohort study , crossover study , adverse effect , placebo , alternative medicine , pathology
Background Our previous studies have demonstrated the tolerability and low side‐effect profile of office‐based sclerotherapy with sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) for treating recurrent epistaxis due to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). The objective of this study was to use a prospective randomized trial to determine the effectiveness of sclerotherapy with STS vs standard treatment. Methods This prospective randomized trial (conducted from November 1, 2011, through January 31, 2014) involved 17 patients with recurrent epistaxis due to HHT. We defined standard treatment as continuation of any treatment that the patient had previously undergone, such as moisturization, packing, and cautery. We used a crossover design, so study participants were randomized to either sclerotherapy or standard treatment during the first time period, and then to the other during the second period. The primary outcome measure was frequency and severity of epistaxis, as measured by the epistaxis severity score (ESS). The ESS is a 10‐point scale, with higher scores corresponding to more bleeding. Results After controlling for treatment order, bleeding was substantially better controlled after sclerotherapy; the ESS after sclerotherapy was nearly one point lower than after standard treatment (−0.95, 1‐sided p = 0.027). Treatment order, baseline ESS, the number of lesions, moisturization practices, and a history of previous blood transfusions did not significantly affect the results. Conclusion This trial demonstrated that sclerotherapy with STS (vs standard treatment) significantly reduced epistaxis due to HHT.