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Medica Jadertina, Vol. 52 No. Suplement 1, 2022.

Meeting abstract

Multidisciplinary management of anemia behind epistaxis in HHT

G.C. Passali orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-8176-0962 ; Division of otorhinolaringology, Fondazione policlinico universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; Multidisciplinary Gemelli Group for HHT, Fondazione policlinico universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
M. Santantonio orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-4600-6470 ; Division of otorhinolaringology, Fondazione policlinico universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; Multidisciplinary Gemelli Group for HHT, Fondazione policlinico universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
M.T. Guarino orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-9481-0690 ; Division of otorhinolaringology, Fondazione policlinico universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; Multidisciplinary Gemelli Group for HHT, Fondazione policlinico universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
M. Sollazzo ; Division of otorhinolaringology, Fondazione policlinico universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; Multidisciplinary Gemelli Group for HHT, Fondazione policlinico universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
L. Corina ; Division of otorhinolaringology, Fondazione policlinico universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; Multidisciplinary Gemelli Group for HHT, Fondazione policlinico universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
G. Paludetti ; Division of otorhinolaringology, Fondazione policlinico universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
J. Galli ; Division of otorhinolaringology, Fondazione policlinico universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
E. Gaetani orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-7808-1491 ; Multidisciplinary Gemelli Group for HHT, Fondazione policlinico Universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; Department of translational medicine and surgery, Fondazione policlinico Universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Catolica del Sacro cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy

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Abstract

HHT affects one in 5000 people and occurs in all the ethnic groups and areas. It is also known as the
Rendu-Osler-Weber disease and it is an inherited autosomal dominant genetic disorder, characterized by
vascular abnormalities. Epistaxis, specifically recurrent and spontaneous nosebleeds, has been assessed as one
of the most common, if not the most common clinical manifestation in HHT patients. The burden related to
this manifestation has both psychological and physical consequences, especially since the treatment options
follow a ladder that might bring to surgery and more invasive therapies. The EQ-VAS questionnaire allows us
to adequately assess and classify HHT patients based on the intensity and type of epistaxis-related symptoms.
This same questionnaire, which is submitted to patients during each evaluation for the benefit of anamnestic
supplementation, includes both a question about the presence or absence of anemia and one about whether a
red cell transfusion has been performed in the past months or since the last outpatient visit. As a matter of fact,
chronic nosebleed, although mild to moderate, can lead to anemia within months or years and, in general, to a
poor quality of life. Patients who have to undergo iron supplementation treatments often face the almost
inevitable side effects that this therapy entails (diarrhea, constipation, nausea, persistent metallic taste,
abdominal pain, etc.). Although numerous treatment options are available for patients with epistaxis
phenotype, from topical to surgical, we believe, based on the successes achieved in the follow up of HHT
patients at our center, that a multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to identify the patients who can benefit
most from each treatment.

Keywords

epistaxis; HHT; genetic disorder

Hrčak ID:

272959

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/272959

Publication date:

27.2.2022.

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