Bevacizumab nasal spray: Noninvasive treatment of epistaxis in patients with Rendu-Osler disease.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab administered at a concentration of 50 mg as an intranasal spray in the treatment of epistaxis in patients suffering from Rendu-Osler disease.

STUDY

DESIGN

Prospective.

METHODS

A preliminary, prospective, review board-approved study was conducted on six patients with Rendu-Osler disease who received 10 treatment courses of 50 mg bevacizumab. Monthly follow-up was based on the epistaxis severity score (ESS), with adverse effects being reported.

RESULTS

Ten treatment courses were administered to six patients, with a mean follow-up period of 2.8 months. A statistically significant decrease in mean ESS was observed at 1 month (P < .001) and 2 months (P < .005), whereas a nonsignificant decrease was found at 3 months (P = .07). A nonsignificant decline in mean ESS was detected at 1 month in patients with ESS ≥7 at baseline. No adverse effects were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

The intranasal spray application of 50 mg bevacizumab was found to be an effective symptomatic treatment over a period of 2 months for patients with a pretreatment ESS of <7, with no adverse effects being noted.