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Intranasal bevacizumab injections improve quality of life in HHT patients
Author(s) -
Steineger Johan,
Geirdal Amy Østerhus,
Osnes Terje,
Heimdal Ketil Riddervold,
Dheyauldeen Sinan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.28179
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , telangiectasia , hospital anxiety and depression scale , depression (economics) , prospective cohort study , anxiety , psychological distress , bevacizumab , distress , surgery , chemotherapy , psychiatry , clinical psychology , nursing , economics , macroeconomics
Background Epistaxis is the most common symptom in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), with the greatest negative impact on quality of life (QoL). Repeated intranasal submucosal bevacizumab injections (RISBI) is a relatively new treatment option for moderate or severe grades of epistaxis in HHT. However, the effect of RISBI on QoL is not fully evaluated. Study Design Prospective, non‐comparative study. Materials and Methods Patients treated by RISBI for HHT‐associated epistaxis between June 2011 and August 2013 were prospectively invited to the present study. The end of follow‐up was October 2013. The patients were requested to answer QoL questionnaires before the first treatment, and 6‐8 weeks after the last treatment. Three levels of QoL were assessed: Overall QoL using Cantril's Self‐Anchoring Ladder; Health‐related QoL using Short Form 36 (SF‐36), and Disease‐specific QoL. Psychological distress was measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). Results Thirty‐three patients were treated with RISBI during the period referred to above. Twenty‐three patients completed the QoL questionnaires. The average number of treatments per patient was 2.15 ± 1.3 (Range: 1–5). The mean overall QoL improved from 6.47 ± 1.9 to 7.26 ± 1.6 ( P < .05). Several dimensions measured by SF‐36 were significantly improved with a medium to strong effect size. HADS demonstrated a significant decrease in psychological distress after the last treatment. Conclusion HHT patients treated by RISBI improved in several aspects of quality of life, and psychological distress decreased. RISBI was an effective treatment option for moderate and severe grades of HHT‐associated epistaxis. Level of Evidence 4 (case series). Laryngoscope , 130:E284–E288, 2020