Intranasal bevacizumab injections improve quality of life in HHT patients.

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.