ND-YAG LASER TREATMENT OF RECURRENT EPISTAXIS IN HEREDITARY HEMORRHAGIC TELANGIECTASIA

Objective: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an inherited abnormality passed down as a dominant autosomal feature. Recurrent ep istaxis usually constitutes the major clinical manifestation of this d isease. The unsatisfactory results of conservative therapy have stimul ated a research interest for the role of laser photocoagulation in tel angiectatic vessels associated with this clinical entity. Method: The Nd:YAG laser was used to treat a group of 11 individuals suffering fro m HHT, all of whom had been previously treated using other modalities. Results and Conclusion: The excellent results of Nd:YAG laser irradia tion are addressed in view of all treatment modalities proposed for th e treatment of recurrent epistaxis in HHT.