Comparison of Blue and Nd:YAG laser treatment in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Introduction Hereditary hemorrhagic teleangiectasia (HHT, Morbus Osler) shows recurrent epistaxis as a leading symptom due to arteriovenous malformations. Both care of the nasal mucosa and endonasal laser therapy are used as symptomatic treatment options.

Material & Methods A retrospective analysis of 14 patients (seven female, seven male, mean age 63,4 years) was carried out at the ENT department of university hospital of Charité Berlin who received endonasal laser therapy with neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser (Nd:YAG laser) or blue laser. The time period until the next intervention following the last laser treatment was compared.

Results The mean time period to the next surgical intervention was 182,2 days in the Nd:YAG laser group and 246,6 days in the blue laser group. In the direct comparison of both groups no statistically significant difference was found (p=0.17).

Discussion Endonasal laser treatment is a valuable therapeutic principle for Morbus Osler patients. In comparison with both laser procedures, there seems to be a longer period for blue laser until the next surgical intervention. This may be due to the specific effect of the blue laser on blood vessels and AV malformations with hemoglobin as a chromphore. Currently, both laser procedures should be classified as equivalent. A continuation of the study is planned to evaluate our preliminary results in a larger patient cohort.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023