[Treatment of epistaxes in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (Rendu-Osler-Weber disease) with tranexamic acid].

OBJECTIVE

Recurrent epistaxis is the most frequent clinical manifestation of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Its treatment occasionally presents difficulties as there is no consensus on the appropriate therapeutic protocol. Our objective was to explore the utility of oral tranexamic acid for the treatment of epistaxes in HHT patients.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: A 3-year prospective study was carried on HHT patients with epistaxis treated with oral tranexamic acid in the HHT unit at our hospital.

RESULTS

Ten patients with HHT were treated with oral tranexamic acid during the study. Most of them improved both the frequency and severity of their epistaxis and were satisfied with the treatment. No treatment-related complications were recorded. Two patients needed more aggressive treatments to control epistaxis.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral tranexamic acid is useful for achieving significant reductions in epistaxis frequency and intensity in selected patients with HHT. In those presenting severe epistaxis, however, it may need to be combined with more aggressive therapies.